Encyclopedia of Libraries and Librarianship

A Voice for our past and present

Books on LibrarianshipBooks on the history of libraries and librarianship

Books on current issues in librarianship

But the ‘twain do not meet. There aren’t too many books that take both historical and current perspectives of librarianship.

Encyclopedia of Libraries and Librarians

• Explores libraries and librarians in a historical and contemporary perspective• 4 volume encyclopedia that can be made available in print and electronic form.

Encyclopedia of Librarians and Librarians

Issues that will be addressed:• How was information passed in different times?•What were the obstacles and issues that stood between the information and the information seeking public ?•How did librarians counter those obstacles?

The encyclopedia will present:• A chronological history of libraries and important figures in librarianship history• Historical events and how they contributed to the increase or decline of information access. • Popular culture portrayals of librarians in literature, film, and other sources and how they contributed to librarianship

Encyclopedia of Libraries and Librarians

Four VolumesVolume I: Ancient libraries to the 16th century

Entries could include information on:• Ancient libraries such as the Library of Alexandria and the Royal Library of Persia• Medieval scholars who kept their information within monasteries in chained libraries • Military conquest and book burning incidents that resulted in destructions of libraries and materials• The creation of the printing press and its impact on libraries.

Encyclopedia of Libraries and Librarians

Volume II: 17th- 18th century

Entries could include information on:• The “Golden Age of Libraries” with the construction of the Bodleian Library, the library at the British Museum and others• America’s contribution to librarianship including Benjamin Franklin’s creation of the Library Company of Philadelphia and the construction of the Library of Congress• How the academic views during the Enlightenment pushed for more libraries • What effects the American and French Revolution had on information and educational access

Encyclopedia of Libraries and LibrariansVolume III: The 19th to early 20th century

Entries could include:• The establishment of the American Library Association and improvements including Melvil Dewey’s classification system• The distribution of fiction and how librarians reacted to these materials as well as the ideals that librarians had towards educating the public• The interest that philanthropists such as Andrew Carnegie had in funding libraries and education• How the creation of processes such as bookmobiles, interlibrary loan, and others helped to spread literacy and education.

Encyclopedia of Libraries and Librarians

Volume IV: The 20th-21st century

Entries could include:• The formation of the Office for Intellectual Freedom and responses to challenges such as book banning and the US Patriot Act• The advent of digital technology in libraries and how librarians have implemented social networking, digital librarianship, and databases• Educational difficulties in developing countries such as Ethiopia and Afghanistan and how librarians have assisted educational access• How diversity is promoted through cultural and educational opportunities within libraries•The portrayals of librarians in popular culture, particularly in literature and film.

Encyclopedia of Libraries and Librarians

A typical entry: Melvil Dewey (1851-1931)•Biographical information: education, training, personal life and how it impacted their career and involvement. •Contributions to librarianship: creating the classification system and his involvement in founding the ALA.•Cross references to individuals and events in the figure’s lifetime: Dewey’s colleagues Charles A. Cutter and Samuel S. Green and historical events both in librarianship, such as the beginning of the ALA and in general such as the push to educate the public during the Gilded Age. • The impact of these achievements on librarianship and how they relate to modern issues: information access, classification, cataloging, library associations etc.

Funding •$1500-3000 per month for research purposes•$1500for publishing costs*Optional: $1000 for travel expensesTotal:3500-6500*4500-7500 with travel