Why do we need a public library?


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

Internet Archive, which hosts our audio books, is in the midst of their annual fund-raising. They have also begun a drive to provide a mirror site in Canada to ensure IA's availability to all users. The IA is a vast library with millions of public domain books, audio, film, radio, and other media. They also maintain an open library of copyrighted books one can 'check out' by becoming a member with a virtual library card. This collection is devoted to the concept of why we need a public library, the title taken from an essay by Chalmers Hadley, which will be the first entry in this audio book. The rest of the collection is pulled from Project Gutenberg's Library selections. Some are solo essays, most are chapters from selected books on library science and culture. I'm also open to including up to 5 chapters or short works from the list of banned books on PG's site to emphasize the need for a public library. - Summary by Matt Pierard (16 hr 25 min)

Chapters

Why do we need a public library? Part 1 34:50 Read by Michele Fry
Why do we need a public library? Part 2 34:42 Read by Michele Fry
Why do we need a public library? Part 3 35:26 Read by Michele Fry
The world of books and the world's work, by Henry E. Legler 39:00 Read by E. J. Hancock
The Companionship of Books, by Arthur Bostwick 48:48 Read by Melissa Perry
The Two Fundamentals, by Mary Salome Cutler 17:16 Read by Amelia Chesley
Relation of the State to the Public Library, by Melvil Dewey 18:38 Read by Amelia Chesley
Cooperation between Library and Community, by M. Anna Tarbell 16:57 Read by Amelia Chesley
The Reformed Librarie-Keeper, by John Dury 22:00 Read by Availle
Libraries in the Medieval and Renaissance Periods by John Willis Clark 55:37 Read by Phil Schempf
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, Ch 1 (French) 16:53 Read by Isabelle Lin
The Negro Vote in the States Whose Constitutions Have Not Been Specifically Rev… 33:34 Read by VfkaBT
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll, Ch 11 12:21 Read by Scotty Smith
An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, 'Of Ideas In General' Ch 1, by John Lo… 44:23 Read by VfkaBT
Idea of a Transcendental Logic. I. Of Logic in General, by Immanuel Kant 8:57 Read by Scotty Smith
Zoonomia Section XIV. Of The Production Of Ideas, by Erasmus Darwin 46:10 Read by VfkaBT
The Analects, by Confucius - Section I 5:43 Read by Nathan Rosquist
The Awakening, Ch 7, by Kate Chopin 18:18 Read by VfkaBT
The Dead Are Silent by Arthur Schnitzler 41:56 Read by Availle
The Free Public Library, by Thomas W. Higginson. 10:32 Read by Gerwin Kramer
Some Popular Objections to Public Libraries, by Frederick Poole 27:09 Read by Michele Fry
The Function of a Town Library, by Josiah P. Quincy 15:39 Read by Michele Fry
The Library and the Social Centre, by Lutie Eugenia Stearns. 8:04 Read by VfkaBT
How to Use a Library, by James Mascarene Hubbard. 21:33 Read by Kalynda
Where Neighbors Meet, by Margery Closey Quigley. 21:42 Read by Maria Kasper
The immigrant in the library, by Mary Antin 23:28 Read by Alitheia
On the Supply of Printed Books from the Library to the Reading Room, Part 1, by… 33:25 Read by VfkaBT
On the Supply of Printed Books from the Library to the Reading Room, Part 2, by… 28:03 Read by VfkaBT
The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine, Response to Burke part 1 1:01:16 Read by Colleen McMahon
The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine, Response to Burke part 2 56:20 Read by Colleen McMahon
The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine, Response to Burke part 3 58:05 Read by Colleen McMahon
The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine, Response to Burke part 4 1:08:18 Read by Colleen McMahon