How 18th Century France Kicked Off Today's Modern Library

Did you know that in 1789, during the overthrowing of the French monarchy, public Libraries jumped on the scene in a big way due to a Revolutionary decree that took place on the 2nd of November?  It was at this time that "all the possessions of the clergy, including their libraries" became national property (against their wishes I feel certain).  But we'll dive into that further in a bit.  This summer I'm reading an excellent book on Library design called Libraries - A Design Manual*.  I'll be exploring this book in further detail and sharing with you what I learn in the coming weeks.  And so far, the information has been very useful and super interesting.  History has always been one of my favorite topics of discussion and this first section really jumps into the beginnings of the public Library and the overall benefits of conscious Library design.  So for all my history lovers, this post is for you!

As most of you know, the first Libraries were filled with hand-copied writings and "pre-historic archives in cuneiform with records of dynastic warriors and rulers.  Great libraries of the ancient world were the property of kings, libraries of the Middle Ages the realm of the church, Renaissance libraries the exclusive collection of wealthy patrons and the great research and reference libraries the domain of private universities."  The everyday public just didn't have near the access that we do now.  In fact, it was basically non-existent.  But that would all change in the late 18th century.  

Before that dynamic change took place though, the moveable printing press was invented and implemented in 1439 giving further access to the written word.  However access was still only made available to scholars, scientists and the "enlightened middle class".  If you wanted to get your hands on a book, you had to be wealthy or deeply rooted in the academic world.

However, in the late 18th century things took a dramatic turn and technically the public Library was born.  "The development of the library as a public institution, not surprisingly, parallels the progress of individual rights from the period of the Enlightenment."  This lead to the Revolutionary decree of November 2nd, 1789 that forced clergy to release their Libraries into being national property.

Victorian England then saw the enacting of a law in 1850 called the Public Libraries Act which gave local districts "the power to establish free public Libraries".  This act seemed to run parallel to what was going on in the United States where the notion of the public Library was beginning to grow.  This is also when public support began to play a major role in Library design as well.  In fact, according to this text, "the Peterborough Town Library of New Hampshire, established in 1833, was the first free library in the U.S. to be established through the use of local taxes."

In the early 20th century, Libraries began to be constructed as monument-style buildings that "reflected the esteem placed by that society on knowledge."  Often Classical architectural styles prevailed and formality was the preferred look.  This begins to change over the course of the next 75 years however and Libraries began to take a far less formal look and feel.

During the 1930s and 1940s, open-stack Libraries were gaining popularity since they were more functional and a lot of what we see in Libraries today began to take form, like browsing collections, children and youth spaces and even reading rooms.  This design was the "precursor to the model of the functional library outlined by the American Library Association in 1948." This was all about accessibility and functionality while setting the modern Library up to be "planned and equipped as a modern educational center."

As time progressed, Libraries would come to resemble more and more of what we know them to be today; housing media collections, meeting rooms, soft seating and even cafes.  This exhibited a major pivot in the design of the modern Library.  These spaces were no longer just for the highly academic, but places of community and respite.  Which is where we segue into the future of our Libraries.

With technology and the information age in full force, Libraries are learning to embrace the necessary changes that will keep the modern-day Library relevant and useful.  Some argue that the need for the physical pubic Library is fading fast.  But I don't agree.  Now, I may be slightly biased since I design Libraries for a living, but maybe because of that, I see how very relevant they in fact are.  

Did you know a study was done about 10 years ago that showed "67% of libraries are the only provider of free public access computers and internet in their communities"?  My guess is that number has risen significantly since then.  This is huge.  It shows a very important need the Library meets in just that one area.  And if we've learned nothing from the Covid crisis over the past couple of years, it was just how missed and loved our Libraries really are.  

The key now is to continue to grow and evolve into what our communities need.  And that can't be done with a one-size-fits-all sort of mentality for sure.  But if we start really digging into what each Library requires based on their surrounding community and we begin to design with intention, then I know we can continue to meet the change that comes.

In the next few weeks, I will dive deeper into the topic of the ever-evolving modern Library using the Libraries - A Design Manual text.  I believe the information in this book will prove to be very valuable to you.  As I break down the plethora of knowledge the authors have painstakingly compiled, I know you will see your Library and the future of Library design with a new vision.

But in the meantime, stay involved by joining my DIY Library Design group and getting in on the conversations about each week's specific topic.  Ask questions!  I would love to help in any way that I can. 

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