Historical models of library provision : the example of Scotland

• Main Author: Crawford, John C.
• Published: Glasgow Caledonian University 1993
• Subjects: 020; Information science & librarianship
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.385906

This study aims to construct a historical model of library provision in Scotland from the 16th century to the present day. It falls naturally into three parts: A first section covering the period 1560-1850 which discusses the origin and development of library provision and use in Scotland and identifies its main characteristics. A second section 'Sectoral Analysis' which is an analysis of the LIBSCOT file, a microcomputer held directory of library provision in Scotland in the 1890s. After an overview chapter each type of library in Scotland, derived from a classification devised by the author, is described in turn and its main characteristics, statistical and factual, are identified. A third section, Evaluation, which analyses the LIBSCOT file data in general terms, examines the development of policy for library provision in Scotland and considers how contemporary librarianship in Scotland has been shaped by the historical model. A final chapter considers the study's importance for library historiography. The historical model, briefly stated, suggests that library provision in Scotland has traditionally been based on small administrative, local community centred roots which originated in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. These traditions originated in small market towns and villages and although they spread to large towns and cities the small population unit remained the essential base for library provision. By the end of the 18th century a structure of library provision had emerged, based on small units which were amateur but not amateurish in character and were hostile to large bureaucratic units and an ideology of professionalism. The evidence of the LIBSCOT file shows that this picture was largely unchanged by the late 19th century. In the 20th century slow progress was made towards a new model of library provision, based on large administrative units and an ideology of professionalism was slow to develop. Attitudes did not change until the 1960s.