The magazine of the photo-essay
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Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film maker
by Robert Dawson
These photographs present an overview of my nation-wide, eighteen-year
survey of public libraries throughout the United States. There are
approximately 17,000 public libraries in our country and these photographs
reflect my interest in documenting the broadest range of this system from the
poorest to the wealthiest, the oldest to the newest, the smallest to the largest,
and the most crowded or the most isolated and even abandoned. As I
photographed this dynamic system over the years, I witnessed a profound
change in its identity and purpose. I have always thought of public libraries as
beacons of hope in the dark. It saddened me to come upon a library that had
been destroyed either through natural disaster, neglect or the economic
collapse of the local community. Throughout their long history, public
libraries in America have shown us a way to something better. What would we
become as a nation without them? The concept of a public library began in
many places. The world’s first tax-supported public library began in
Peterborough, NH in 1833. Other types of libraries pre-dated and followed this
important idea. Many eventually coalesced into our contemporary system of publicly financed, community owned
libraries.
Destroyed Mark Twain Branch Library, Detroit, MI 2011.
Central Library, Seattle, WA 2009
Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Ramus were principal designers for this library that opened in 2004.
Athenaeum Library, St. Johnsbury, VT 2001
The painting is by the famous nineteenth-century German-American artist Alfred Bierstadt of Yosemite Valley in
California.
Library built by ex-slaves, Allensworth, CA.1995
The remarkable life of Allen Allensworth began as a slave in Kentucky in 1842. He later became a petty officer in the US
Navy, a Baptist minister and a Chaplin in the US Army. He founded a California Colony in Tulare County that continued
for several years during the early part of the 20th century. The library is a re-creation of the original in what is now called
Col. Allensworth State Historic Park.
Computer Room, Harold Washington Learning Center, Chicago, IL 2009
Computers have become essential in any library. Libraries are also among the few places people can take free classes on
how to use computers and other technologies. Especially for poor people, access to free computers in libraries is
necessary to function into today’s wired world.
Interior, Willard Library, Evansville, IN 2011
The Willard Library was built in 1885. The Library is the oldest public library building in the state of Indiana and is housed
in a spectacular Victorian building. The Willard Library has also been called the only public library that is haunted. While
photographing a remote, dark corner of the interior of the library I thought I saw the ghost. But I wasn’t sure. Live
GhostCams are currently watching for the Grey Lady at WillardGhost.com.
Super Bingo, Family Dollar and Mockingbird branch library, Abilene, TX 2011.
Katrina damaged library, New Orleans, LA 2008
When the levees broke, all of New Orleans’ thirteen public libraries were damaged, eight
so badly they could not be reopened. More than 300,000 books, CDs, and other items
were destroyed—nearly half the collection. With the devastation of the city and the
crippling of city government, NOPL was forced to lay off 90 percent of its employees. All
libraries were closed for over two months. The 19 remaining staff members, when they
were able to re-enter the city, began surveying damage and salvaging assets. The
devastation was an opportunity to rebuild a better library system.
Library, Roscoe, SD 2012
The library was built in 1932 in the small town of Roscoe, ND by a group of civic-minded women called the Priscilla
Embroidery Club. The land for the library was donated and the women hauled the rocks for the chimney and foundation
while their husbands constructed the building. The eight women of the club took turns being the librarian and
maintaining the yard and building. Books were bought by the clubwomen but many books were donated by people in the
community. Approximately 1,500 books were in the library when it closed in 2002. The aging members of the Priscilla
Club were no longer able to maintain and operate the library. This 12 by 14 foot building was considered one of the
smallest public libraries in the nation.
Library, Death Valley National Park, CA 2009
This remote library in a trailer is the only library for hundreds of miles. The roof is shaded to lessen the intense summer
heat of the hottest place on earth.
Reading Room, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, New York Public Library, New York, NY 2008
Often referred to as the “main branch”, this Beau-Arts landmark was initially formed from the consolidation of the Astor
and Lenox Libraries, and has evolved into one of the world’s preeminent public libraries. It houses some 15 million items
including priceless medieval manuscripts, maps, contemporary novels and poetry, as well as baseball cards, dime novels,
and comic books. More than 1,200 languages and dialects, ancient and modern, are represented in the collections. It is
representative of the rich diversity of the city that built it.
Sculpture, cliffs and Springdale Branch Library, Springdale, UT 2012.
Head of books sculpture, Main Library, Salt Lake City, UT 2010
This hanging public art piece entitled "Psyche" consists of nearly 1500 small sculptures of
books and butterflies.
Civil War mural, Pollard Memorial Library, Lowell, MA 2011
The library contains a stunning collection of artifacts including a series of murals depicting scenes from the Civil War. The
local writer Jack Kerouac frequently used this library.
Librarians, Tool Lending Library, Berkeley Public Library, Berkeley, CA 2011
The Tool Lending Library is open to all Berkeley residents and homeowners and currently houses 2500+ tools.
Rifle training class, West Wendover, NV (diptych) 2010
When I arrived at this desert library I noticed a sign saying it was closed because of a class being held inside. I set up my
camera outside to take this photograph when the class of children carrying rifles emerged from the library and formed a
line facing West Wendover’s casinos and dry, rugged mountains.
Adult literacy class, Potrero Hill Branch Library, San Francisco, CA 1994.
Yosemite Valley Branch Library, Yosemite National Park, CA.
Library, Weeping Water, NE 2012
This library was originally built as a church before becoming a public library. The old limestone rock walls exuded rust
colored stains that made the closed library look like it was weeping blood.
Peninsula Branch Library. Queens Bookmobile parked in front of library, Rockaways, NY, NY 2012.
After Hurricane Sandy the entire flooded contents of library were moved to dumpster shown on left.