libraries and society

"An . . . account of a band of young men in a besieged Damascan suburb who find books in the rubble and create a secret library"--Provided by publisher.

"Libraries have existed for millennia, but today many question their necessity. In an ever more digital and connected world, do we still need places of books in our towns, colleges, or schools? If libraries aren't about books, what are they about? In Expect More, David Lankes, winner of the 2012 ABC-CLIO/Greenwood Award for the Best Book in Library Literature, walks you through what to expect out of your library. Lankes argues that, to thrive, communities need libraries that go beyond bricks and mortar, and beyond books and literature. We need to expect more out of our libraries. They should be places of learning and advocates for our communities in terms of privacy, intellectual property, and economic development. Expect More is a rallying call to communities to raise the bar, and their expectations, for great libraries."--Author's website.

A collection of essays that examines the significance of libraries in Western culture, from ancient Greek and Roman times to the twenty-first century.

"Traces the history of the public library, featuring records and testimonies from as early as 1850 ... [and] paints a clear and engaging picture of Americans who value libraries not only as civic institutions, but also as social spaces for promoting and maintaining community."--Provided by publisher.

Traces the history of libraries from the clay-tablet collections of Mesopotamia to the electronic libraries of the twenty-first century.

Traces the history of libraries from the clay-tablet collections of Mesopotamia to the electronic libraries of the twenty-first century.

Draws on history, sociology, and philosophy to explain the importance of the library profession and libraries as community institutions in the modern world.

Showcases the work of librarians in a variety of fields to examine how, in the early twenty-first century, they still serve as educators, archivists, and curators despite the abundance of digital information available to the general population.