Synopsis
This text explores the many and varied issues and debates surrounding the public library system in England during the early 20th century. At the book's core is a dispute regarding the introduction of open access, a system allowing library users to browse and select books directly rather than requesting items from a member of staff. The author contrasts open access with the prevailing method of the time, which relied on readers submitting requests for books to a librarian, who would then retrieve the item from the library's stacks. The book provides arguments for and against open access, including the feasibility of implementing the system in practice and a discussion of the potential impact on the role of the librarian and reader experience. The author also provides a snapshot of the state of public libraries as they were in the early 1900s, with information on practices, funding, and other relevant factors. This book is a valuable resource for those interested in the history and development of public libraries and access to literature in the early 1900s.
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