A landmark speech on a new Newark library and the value of public knowledge.
This address, delivered at the opening of the Newark Library Association hall in 1848, celebrates the power of libraries to educate, uplift, and unite a city.
The speaker traces the long history of libraries—from ancient Egypt to Rome—showing how books and reading have shaped civilizations. He links the growth of learning to the moral and social progress of Newark, and argues that a well-stocked library offers both practical knowledge and noble pleasures for people of all ages.
- Discover how early libraries were built as centers of learning and culture.
- Understand the connection between knowledge, happiness, and civic progress.
- Explore the book world’s two realms: the riches of imagination and the discipline of learning.
- Consider how to choose reading that elevates character while discerning harmful material.
Ideal for readers of history, civic heritage, and library history, this edition invites you to reflect on the purpose and promise of public libraries.