Most of the first libraries were for preserving and studying religious texts. Guess who were in charge of preserving and studying these texts? Men. These leaders were, and still predominately are, men. Once public, academic, and specialty libraries were created men were still at the center of the library world. These libraries were used for leisure as well as serious studying. Women weren’t allowed to use these libraries because they “were seen by men as a possible distraction to serious study, and at this time it was also considered morally unsuitable for men and women to commingle.” Once women entered the work force, in the mid 1800's, the library world would be changed forever.
Roff, Sandra (2014). A room of her own: the Woman’s Library, a footnote to New York City Library history. Information & Culture, 49(4), 450-468. |
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