Abstract

Iowa public libraries flourished during the twenty-five years after 1890. Their prosperity resulted from the ability of the library leadership, working within a national context, to articulate a compelling argument that public libraries and well-trained librarians were the solution to a pressing local problem. This essay examines the interaction of three key institutions: the Iowa Library Association, the Iowa Federation of Women's Clubs, and the Iowa Library Commission. It demonstrates that the success of the Iowa library movement at this time resulted from Iowans' belief that libraries were the best institution to address the problems of public vice, especially drinking, gambling, and prostitution. Finally, the essay argues that the values professed by librarians depend on the particular social problem that is being addressed at a given time and place.

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