B.A.T. Mobile Time Line


	Library Time Line

c. 1250 B.C.	Library at Thebes
c. 800 B.C.	Library at Ninevah, Assyria Clay cylinders
c. 300 B.C.	Library at Alexandria
39 B.C.	First public library in Rome
c. 100	Ulpian Libraries, Rome Large reading room lit from above Rolls stored in cabinets around perimeter of room Vitruvius: ‘ad communen delectationem' (for the enjoyment of all)
c. 100	Roman Library at Timgad
135	Library of Celsus, Ephesus 12,000 scrolls stored in galleries designed to prevent moisture damage Burned by Goths in 262
300s	Rolls are replaced by bound manuscript texts called codices papyrus is replaced by vellum Vellum books are more durable, more convenient to use and more efficient to store
476	Imperial library, Constantinople Fire destroys 120,000 volume collection
500s	Rise of monastic libraries Monasteries develop as intellectual centers following the fall of Rome Abbeys become the primary producers and collectors of books The monastic cloister is adapted to serve as a reading room Manuscript rolls are stored in book-cupboards or chests called armories (armarium) Cloister arches and windows are furnished with carrels and individual seats for reading and writing
530	Benedictine Monastery, Monte Cassino Individual books are stored in book-cupboards (bibliotheca)
Late 500s	Codex amiatinus Illustration of an early book-cupboard used in monasteries
831	Charlemagne's library at Centula abbey contains 256 volumes
1200s	Establishment of universities throughout Western Europe Friars settle in towns to missionize and teach in universities
	Growth of towns and commerce Secular learning begins to expand beyond the context of the abbey and cathedral Increasing demands for writing and administrative skills result in books becoming more essential in more places
	Introduction of alcoves in libraries Individual books are chained to a sloped desk for reading and storage
1250s	Library at Cluny contains over 500 volumes
c. 1260	Canterbury Cathedral library Early example of an alcove library
1290	Sorbonne library has 1,017 volumes
1300	Library at Canterbury Cathedral contains over 700 volumes
1327	University Library, Oxford Early example of a university library with chained volumes
Late 1300s	Advent of the library as a legitimate building type
	Sorbonne Library, Paris Detached building with books chained to lecterns in pairs, back-to-back, one window per pair, 19 windows in all Declared ‘ad communem sociorum utilitatem' (for the use of the community)
1400s	Invention of printing Replacement of vellum with paper Dramatic increase in number of books and size of book collections
	Increasing literacy among general population Impetus for subsequent development of public libraries
	Advent of royal, civic and collegiate libraries throughout Western Europe
	Alcove or stall system libraries are introduced Bookshelves are placed above lecterns to increase storage capacity Books and readers are assembled in a single room
1424	University Library at Cambridge contains 122 volumes
1438	San Marco library, Florence Introduction of Italian Renaissance nave-and-aisle-type library, with lecterns separated from central gangway Earliest formulation of a program for a public library ‘Comune utilitá di ciascuno' (books for the common use of everyone)
1452	Library at Cesena Archetypal nave-and-aisle-type library Books Chained to lecterns
1475	Vatican library contains 2,527 volumes Books shelved in presses
1500s	Reformation — monasteries in Northern Europe abolished Transfer of books to secular domain Lay persons are encouraged to read Impetus for public libraries
1530	University Library at Cambridge contains over 500 volumes
1553	St. Mark's Library, Venice
c. 1567	Escorial Library First hall-type library with perimeter walls of reading room lined with bookshelves
1571	Laurentian Library, Florence Nave-and-aisle-type library Single lecterns in rows with seats attached to their backs
1588	Vatican Library, Rome Hall-type library
1600s	Widespread use of the hall-type library Efficiency of storage to accommodate increasing numbers of books General abandonment of chaining
1605	Cervantes publishes Part I of Don Quixote Introduction of the modern novel
1610	Leiden University Library Example of stall system with readers standing
1612	Bodleian Library, Oxford Exemplary hall-type library
1676	Trinity College Library, Cambridge (Wren) Example of hall-type
1680	French Royal Library contains over 40,000 volumes and 10,000 manuscripts
Early 1700s	University Library at Cambridge contains over 5,000 volumes
1710	Library, Wolfenbüttel, Germany First totally detached secular library
1714	Bodleian library at Oxford has 36,085 volumes
1761	Library, Karlsruhe, Germany Tentative separation of books and readers anticipates 19th Century innovation differentiating book storage from reading room
1800s	Invention of the cylinder printing press Dramatic increase in the number of books and size of book collections
	Dramatic increase in level of literacy among general population Increasing demand for books and libraries Impetus for rise of public libraries
	Subsequent increase in size of libraries More book storage Larger reading rooms
	Emergence of three main elements in the development of modern library planning Books Readers Service
	Evolution of the modern public library in the U.S. and England Response to dramatic increase in demand for access to books Relationship to rise of modern democratic forms of government Criteria — must be free, must lend books, and must have open access to shelves
1817	Bodleian Library at Oxford has 161,000 volumes
1819	French Royal Library contains over 350,000 volumes and 50,000 manuscripts Bibliothèque St. Genviéve contains over 110,000 volumes and 2,000 manuscripts
1833	Library, Peterboro, New Hampshire First public library in the U.S.
1850	Salford Museum and Art Gallery First free public library in England Concentration in industrial cities and towns
1854	Boston Public Library First public library in a major city in the U.S.
1856	British Museum library First use of continuous iron frame stack system
1857	Peabody Institute Library, Baltimore First free public library in the U.S.
1868	Bibliothéque National, Paris First library to separate books from readers for more efficient book storage Introduction of modern book stack system
1883	Quincy Memorial Library (H. H. Richardson) Hall-type adapted for use in a community library Integration of service, readers and books
1887	Boston Public Library (McKim, Mead, and White) Separation of readers and stacks Elevated reading room with stacks organized concentrically around courtyard More images from Bates hall: [Image1] [Image2] [Image3]
1890's	35 states have created a State Library Commission and support "Traveling Libraries" to small towns
1895	Special children's rooms begin opening in some public libraries
1896	National Education Association creates "Library Department" to promote cooperation between schools and public libraries
1897	Carnegie Trust Philanthropic support of public libraries in U.S. and England
1900	Andrew Carnegie sells Carnegie Steel for over $200 million and begins to devote his energy full time to philanthropy. Over the next ten years, money from Carnegie helps fund over 2800 libraries across the nation.
	Special training school for Children's Librarians opens in Pittsburgh
	Introduction of modern cataloging systems to make collections more accessible Dewey Decimal Library of Congress
1905	The first bookmobile was created using a horse-drawn carriage by the Washington County Free Library in Hagerstown, Maryland. It occurred to librarian Mary Lemist Titcomb that the wagon used for the delivery of books could also be used for circulation.
1910	New York Public Library Stacks located below reading room
	Washington County Free Library's horse-drawn carriage was destroyed in an accident with a Norfolk & Western locomotive. The driver and both horses survived.
1912	The first automotive bookmobile was introduced by the Washington County Free Library in Hagerstown, Maryland. It was an International Harvester Autowagon with a customized body to carry books.
1915	A motorized "library bus" was introduced in Hibbing, Minnesota. This was the first bookmobile that patrons could actually enter.
1900-1917	"Library Militant" era: General attitude that community libraries should fill a broad range roles to help solve social problems, etc. Art exhibits, education of juvenile offenders, story-telling on an elaborate scale, child entertainment, etc.
1917	"Library War Service Program" provides libraries for masses of men in the military. Most Army training camps set up libraries for draftees. Community libraries expand roles in communities by helping the Food Administration during war.
1920's	Thanks in large part to masses of men becoming accustomed to having broad access to books during the war, community libraries focus their attention on playing an active role in adult education. Direct Adult Education: Reading courses, advisory services, etc Indirect Adult Education: Service/assistance to other organizations (schools, etc.)
	Libraries began purchasing wheeled carts to provide service to hospitals.
1928	Stockholm Public Library (E. G. Asplund) Modern adaptation of hall-type with books surrounding readers and service at center
Early 1930's	Reader's Advisors played a specific, defined role in adult education by creating and maintaining suggested reading lists for individual patrons.
Late 1930's	Reader's Advisors lost favor because the program was too expensive and unrealistic.
1935	Municipal Library at Viipuri (A. Aalto) Open zoning of service, readers and books
1900-1943	Library programs were created under the Work Progress Administration (WPA) that brought varied types of service. Pack Horse Librarians. Based in Kentucky, carriers mounted horses and mules and brought books to mountain folks. Minnesota Demonstration Project. WPA funded projects to set up "stations" in various locations including firehouses and barbershops. Bookmobiles. WPA sponsored several programs nationwide including the "Travelog" a log cabin on wheels which served three counties in rural North Carolina that had never previously had library service.
1945	The Enoch Pratt Free Library of Baltimore, Maryland, began to send its horse-drawn Book Wagon to areas where juvenile delinquency was high and book circulation was low. Margaret A. Edwards decided to recruit young readers in these areas after hearing a critic call the librarians "overly feminine, segregated, and timid."
1948	The Enoch Pratt Free Library of Baltimore, Maryland, began its motorized bookmobile program.
1949	Southern California gained its first bookmobile program when the Los Angeles Public Library began to send one out.
1950's	Libraries began to incorporate America's love of the automobile by building drive-up windows for service.
1955	There were about 1,000 bookmobiles throughout the United States
1956	Library Services Act (LSA) passed Congress, creating broad federal funding for library projects. The number of bookmobiles steadily climbed after the passage of this act since its prime purpose was to aid in bringing library service to rural areas. Bookmobiles were found to be the perfect vehicle to provide this.
1957	Money from LSA makes its way to 46 State library plans
1960	Because of LSA, 34 million rural residents had access to public libraries. Nearly 30% of them had access via bookmobile programs.
1969	In order to boost sagging circulation, librarians began outreach programs to try to connect books with readers. Librarians in Brooklyn pioneered the "3Bs" program where paperback books were left in bars, beauty shops and barber shops. There was no concern about whether these books were returned. Instead, the goal of the program was to make books more easily available.
1972	Exeter Library (L. Kahn) Concentric layering of service, readers and books
1970	Library of Congress contains over 15,000,000 volumes British Library contains over 8,500,000 volumes Harvard Library contains over 8,000,000 volumes Bibliothéque Nationale contains over 7,000,000 volumes Open stack libraries Children's libraries Branch libraries Bookmobiles Micro-film and micro-fiche Computer and Internet referencing Xeroxing Multi-media
1970's	Due to budget restraints, many libraries stopped their bookmobile programs.
	Early in the decade online bibliographic searching became widespread (databases like Dialog and BRS are developed); the use of technology began to evolve the role of the Reference Librarian to include the ability to assist in the use/operation of a wide array of computer based systems.
	Libraries implement controversial fee based services to help pay for costs of acquiring technology.
1973	Federal appropriation for libraries: $140 million.
1974	Federal appropriation for libraries: zero.
1975	Average cost of a hardcover book: $14.09.
1976	Average cost of a hardcover book: $16.19.
1977	Apple Computer introduces their first personal computer.
	Congress establishes the Center for the Book, whose mission is to promote awareness of the written word and libraries. By 1982 there are over 30 State Center for the Book affiliates.
1979	Average cost of a hardcover book: $20.10.
	Usenet first developed between University of North Carolina and Duke University. Over the next 20 years it will become the largest, most democratic method to share ideas and information. Today there are over 50,000 different Usenet groups throughout the world.
1988	Z39.50, a protocol that makes it possible for a user in one system to search and retrieve information from other systems, is approved by the National Information Standards Organization.
1989	First Lady Barbara Bush makes literacy her "pet" project. The attention of the White House strengthens library program funding and public interest in adult education programs throughout the Nation.
1989	The World Wide Web is invented.
1993	National Information Infrastructure Agenda for Action is issued. The NII seeks to promote the development of national networked resources.
1994	Digital Libraries Initiative begun. Project goal: To develope widely usable Web technology to effectively search technical documents on the Internet.
1995	A proliferation of "ISP"s, Internet Service Providers, along with the continuing decline in the cost of technology, makes widespread access to the WWW possible. ALA becomes increasingly concerned with issues of censorship and copyright.
Late 1990's	Through a grant from the Gates Library Foundation public libraries begin to rapidly incorporate information technologies into their core services.
1998	Seattle Washingon passes the largest public bond measure in history for a public library system: 196 million dollars to build or renovate 26 branch libraries and construct a new main library.
Bibliography

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