A Neo-Traditional exercise: The Boston Trustees Report & comments (1)

In 1852, soon after the birth of the public school system, the City of Boston established a committee to look at the goals of a possible public library. This was needed because public libraries were almost an unknown occurrence and far from what could be called an institution. In this series of posts, I will look at the report that committee created and how it is the core of the modern library. A full copy of the report is on-line at McMillan Memorial Library. I consider this a great example of neo-traditional librarianship - a digital copy of a core statement of the library’s historical mission.

The document starts with the names of the committee members and the officials who ordered the report and its printing.

Ordered, That the Trustees of the City Library be requested to report to the City Council upon the objects to be attained by the establishment of a Public Library, and the best mode of effecting them; and that they be authorized to report in print.

Comment:It is not inconsequential that the public library gets its start from city government. This is in keeping with the principal of subsidiarity. Government should undertake operations that are beyond the competence of individuals, but do so at the lowest level that can handle the operation. In most cases, the public library is best handled on the city or county level. I understand that in some states, state government has gone beyond setting standards, regulations and guidelines and actually operates the public libraries, but I do not consider that optimal.

Note that public libraries, from the start, are both part of and insulated from government and politics. The City Council and Mayor request the report, but it is written by appointed trustees. This duality is important. Libraries serve a civil function, else they would have no claim on tax revenue, but they are set aside from direct political control. In authoritarian regimes,  government has direct control of libraries, but this is not the role envisioned for American public libraries. Not that libraries are that well insulated. Many directors will attest they politics cost them their positions and even their careers, but it rarely does so directly. Additionally, when politics does interfere with the operation of a library, it rarely results in better service or a more complete fulfillment of the mission.

Despite that, libraries are a part of local government and I applaud that. Libraries exist to serve their community. If they happen to lose sight of that, they are straying from their mission. They only deserve tax dollars to the extent that they serve the needs of the community. Tax dollars are not spent to meet mere demand, which can be met by the marketplace and private sector. Public sector funds must be spent on community needs.

From the start, there was a need to be clear about the mission of the library. I recently saw a discussion that questioned if the public library could be started in the current environment.  Using this report as a justification, maybe. Sold as a middle class entitlement, First Amendment institution or a free book/video store - never. The Boston trustees wanted to be clear about why they were requesting tax dollars, how those dollars would be used and they wanted it in writing. Bravo!