Summer Reading is here! We have started our Summer Reading Program. Level Up, at the Library is our theme and we have something here for everyone. Check out all of our programs on our website, rochellepubliclibrary.org. The entire schedule with descriptions is available. Follow our Facebook page for updates and the most current information. We are looking forward to seeing all of you at the Library this Summer!
Father’s Day is a holiday that many Americans celebrate in June. This is a day when we remember the fathers or father figures in our lives that have shaped the people we are today. The library has three influential men who shaped the way public libraries appear today.
“While several individuals played a crucial role in shaping the landscape of American libraries, Andrew Carnegie is often considered the "father" of American libraries due to his massive philanthropic contributions that funded the construction of thousands of libraries across the country. However, it's important to remember that libraries existed before Carnegie's era, with Benjamin Franklin establishing the first lending library in America.
Benjamin Franklin: In 1731, Franklin founded the Library Company of Philadelphia, the first lending library in colonial America. This subscription-based library allowed members to borrow books, and it served as a model for later library developments.
Andrew Carnegie: Carnegie, a steel magnate, donated over $40 million to fund the construction of 1,679 public library buildings in the United States between 1886 and 1919. He famously believed that libraries were crucial for the advancement of knowledge and literacy.
Melvil Dewey: While not directly involved in funding library construction, Dewey is considered a pioneer of American librarianship and is best known for his Dewey Decimal Classification system, which is still used in many libraries today.
In conclusion, while Carnegie's financial contributions made a profound impact on the development of American public libraries, Franklin established the first library, and Dewey pioneered many of the practices and systems used in libraries today.”
If you visit the library you will notice that all of the non-fiction books are organized using the Dewey Decimal System. This system is still used today in many Libraries across the country. This is an organized book-based number system. Each number correlates to a general subject matter. Once you find the subject matter, the numbers behind the decimal point put the book in a specific place within a category. The number defines where the items placement is on the shelf.
If you need help finding an item at the library be sure to ask our staff. We are here to help you find the materials that you need. We look forward to seeing you at the library this summer. See you soon!
Sarah Flanagan is the director of the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library.
