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public libraries  

Definition

  • In the United States, public libraries were first established in New England in the mid-nineteenth century as a reflection of the belief in human rights, political equality, and the citizenry's responsibility to safeguard democracy. Early public libraries—especially the Boston Public Library founded in 1852—were viewed as the capstone of a tax-supported education system. [Source: Encyclopedia of Community: From the Village to the Virtual World; Public Libraries]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/public_libraries

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