Cleveland Public Library

Cleveland Public Library

 

Carnegie Libraries

Non-traditional reading materials and the YA reader

The Gates Foundation's impact on the public library development

  • Siobhan Loendorf will lead a discussion on the how outside philanthropy can be a catalyst for public library development. To prepare yourselves for the session, read: (It seems like a lot but it is really less than 20 pages for just the required part.)
    1. Carnegie Libraries by George S. Bobinski, American Library Association, Chicago 1969.
      • This is to give the class an idea of the impact of the Carnegie Libraries.
      • Please read: pages 183-186
      • Optional: pages 187-201
    2. Chapter Report: Opening the Gates by Christine Watkins, American Libraries; Oct99, Vol. 30 Issue 9, p11.
      • This is just a quick blurb in the news to provide some background to the Gates Foundation.
    3. New Computers Bring New Patrons by Margaret Gordon, Andrew Gordon, & Elizabeth Moore, Library Journal; 02/15/2001, Vol. 126 Issue 3, p134.
      • This article contains details about the Gates Library Program.
    4. Americans Want Free Access, Says Gates Foundation Study by Leonard Kniffle., American Libraries; May2002, Vol. 33 Issue 5, p20
    5. Your Place on the Internet by Marilyn Gell Mason, Library Journal; 5/15/2003, Vol. 128 Issue 9, p60.
      • This article is about OCLC's new WebJunction.org getting grants from the Gates Foundation.
    6. Gates Grants Fund Two Studies. by Blumenstein, Lynn, Library Journal; 12/1/2006, Vol. 131 Issue 20, p20-20.
    7. Public libraries, public access computing, FOSS and CI
      • There are alternatives to private philanthropy.
      • Read the section titled Bill Gates and the Digital Divide.
      • The rest of the article is optional reading.
  • Optional readings:
  • Questions to ponder as you read and reflect:
    1. How would you compare and contrast the philanthropy practices of Andrew Carnegie and Bill Gates?
      • For example: Carnegie worked through municipal organizations and Gates is going through State organizations.
    2. Do you think that Carnegie's gifts to small communities resulting in municipal ownership set the stage for issues now where city libraries don't want to join county systems?
      • Do you think that by working with the State libraries that Gates grants can facilitate moving those municipal libraries into the county systems?
    3. Do you see similarities in the impact of the Gates Foundation on the public library?
    4. What are your thoughts on Free Open Source Software FOSS and libraries?
      • Would this be a better less expensive route for all libraries to take?
      • Is the public library being "taken in" by the generosity of the Gates Foundation only to be sorry down the road when everything is obsolete and the Gates Funding has all dried up?
  • slides used in class