Library Ideals

"Library Ideals" by Henry Eduard Legler is a collection of writings exploring how public libraries have grown and the vital role they play in education and democracy. The essays examine different parts of libraries, like how they're run, the extra services they offer, and their responsibility in teaching people, showing how important they are for creating informed citizens and giving everyone the chance to learn. The book starts by introducing Legler as a committed librarian with a big idea that libraries should help society. He thought libraries should not only have books but also offer learning chances, especially for kids and those who don't have many opportunities. The beginning part describes how quickly cities were growing at the time, the call for libraries to change so that they met the needs of new community sizes, and how crucial it was for libraries to actively improve society by connecting with the community, inspiring them, and making sure everyone had the same chance to grow.