Before library cards and the Dewey Decimal System, and stacks of books that anyone could check out, libraries were private rooms in the homes of the rich and powerful.
It wasn’t until the beginning of the 20th century that the world started to become more aware of the knowledge, stories, and resources housed in these private collections. But how did libraries come to be as we know them today? And why are they open to the public? Since most people associate libraries with books, that’s where our story will begin.
A Brief History of the Library
One thing that separated books and other written works on paper from other kinds of artworks was their portability. They could be easily transferred from one collection to another.
In the Middle Ages, most libraries belonged to royal families or were owned by religious institutions.
Royal libraries often contained a wide range of works, including books on history, literature, science, and other subjects, and may have also included documents like manuscripts and maps. Some famous examples of royal libraries include the British Library, the Bibliothèque Royale de Belgique (Royal Library of Belgium), and the Vatican Library.
Eventually, entire aristocratic collections began making their way into the art market through various auction houses and private sales. With the rise of public museums and exhibitions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the public was introduced to aristocratic book collections for the first time, providing an opportunity to learn about and appreciate the literary treasures previously accessible only to the privileged elite.
The modern American library system owes much to Benjamin Franklin, who opened the Library Company of Philadelphia in the 18th century, and to philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who granted funding to many institutions in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, earning him the moniker “Patron Saint of Libraries.”
Is Private Collecting on the Rise Again?
If you look at social media and explore #booktok, you might notice a rise in the individual ownership of books. People can discuss their favorite titles and give recommendations. Readers have also taken to designing their own personal ex-libris stamps to help inventory their collections.
(My personal stamp references my childhood nickname, “Birdie.” I currently have a collection of roughly 300+ books, each of which has been inventoried and categorized by type, author, and theme, the largest of which is historical fiction and fantasy!)
To the average person, a library is a place to find books and other resources, to seek information and knowledge, and to participate in educational and cultural activities. To booklovers like me, it’s an escape from reality, even if for just a short amount of time.
