Documents an exhibition created to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the New York Public Library in 1995, profiling books that had a significant influence, consequence, or resonance during the library's first century. Lists over 150 titles, grouped within eleven categories.

Reproduction of the original: Three Centuries of a City Library by George A. Stephen

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Challenges conventional thinking and top-down definitions, instead drawing on the library user's perspective to argue that the public library's most important function is providing commonplace reading materials and public space. Challenges a professional ethos about public libraries and their responsibilities to fight censorship and defend intellectual freedom. Demonstrates that the American public library has been (with some notable exceptions) a place that welcomed newcomers, accepted diversity, and constructed community since the end of the 19th century. Shows how stories that cultural authorities have traditionally disparaged- i.e. books that are not "serious"- have often been transformative for public library users.

Excerpt from Three Centuries of a City Library: An Historical and Descriptive Account of the Norwich Public Library Established in 1608 and the Present Public Library Opened in 1857 The Library, however, was not intended solely for ministers. The wording Of the title-page of the first donation book, commenced in 1659, states that it was founded for students: Bibliotheca publica Norvicensis communi studiosorum bono instituta incoepta et inchoata fuit An Domini MDCVIII. (see reproduction, facing page Moreover, the list of the early members of the Library includes the names Of people who were not ministers. Facing pages 4 and 6 are facsimiles Of the two pages in the Minute Book bearing Signatures of early members who subscribed to the rules of the Library. Perhaps the most notable autographs are those Of Charles Trimnell, Bishop Of Norwich, William Whiston, translator of Josephus, and chaplain to John Moore, Bishop Of Norwich, Thomas Tanner, Bishop of St. Asaph, and Benjamin Mackerell, a Norfolk antiquary and Librarian of the Norwich Public Library. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works."