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The Public Library: A Photographic Essay (2014)

by Robert Dawson(Favorite Author)

4.29 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

161689217X (ISBN13: 9781616892173)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Princeton Architectural Press

review 1: I really, really enjoyed this book, and not just because I'm a librarian. In fact I wish it had mentioned the St Louis County Libraries!! Also it painted St Louis in a bad light, which wasn't true. But overall I loved the photos and the stories, I wish I had written this book. I would have loved the journey. I've also given this book to many people and everyone agrees it's a great read for anyone who loves libraries.
review 2: As much as I love photographs of grandiose reading rooms in heritage-rich buildings, the images that resonated with me the most were the ones were the libraries that had been abandoned. What a sad state of affairs when you see the images of these buildings that once contained the "heart" of a community. It makes me think that someon... moree could literally publish just a book on abandoned libraries and discuss how its closure continues to affect its community. The next image that captured my attention was the row upon rows of public internet computers with patrons working on them. Barely any elbow room let alone any privacy while on a public library computer. This image is so familiar to me and yet to the public, their impression of the library is always children attending storytime or the lone patron on a computer. Yes, those are familiar images as well but let's be honest, if someone really did a a photo essay of what a public library was like in a day (e.g. photos of patrons fighting, defecating in elevators, letting their young children play on the escalators, returning bug-infested library materials, etc.), the public would be mortified. Yet that would be the book most interesting to pick up and read through... less

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