American libraries 1973

IT CAN hardly be regarded as a coincidence that 1876, the first centenary of America's independence, was a notable year in American library history. It was a year that saw the foundation of the American Library Association, the launching of the Library journal, and the first publication of Melvil Dewey's classification: three events that have had a worldwide influence on the development of libraries. With only three years to go before the occasion of the second centenary, it is not difficult to imagine that it may also witness the maturity of a new phase in American librarianship. When we consider that less than 125 years ago there were scarce six libraries in America of any considerable size, the fact that—according to the latest issue of the ALA directory—there are now well over 30,000 libraries in North America, makes it clear that American library provision has since developed at impressive speed. Certainly, to anyone like myself, who had the good fortune to see American librarianship in action some 20 years ago, the remarkable strengthening in professionalism in American libraries during the past quarter of a century is astonishing—and it shows no signs of slowing up.