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The library literature of the early twentieth century records the issues and concerns of librarians as they struggled to develop responses to the changes caused by urbanization, war, and industrialization. Much of the debate centered on the problem and how the library could effectively serve a changing population. This period saw an impassioned dialogue over the role of the librarian in the Americanization process, the desirability of collecting materials in non-English languages, and the scope of services that should be provided to an expanding population. The Chicago Public Library is examined to see how these issues affected a local library's services and collections. The debates of the early twentieth century are not merely historical curiosities. Echoes remain in more contemporary discussions on the role of libraries in an age of videos, Internet access, multiculturalism, and international crisis. ********** The opening decades of the twentieth century were years of experimentation, adaptation, and introspection in the library profession as librarians searched for effective responses to the challenges of serving an increasingly diverse population. The country was undergoing profound changes that in many ways mirror changes occurring today. The first part of the twentieth century was a time of international tensions, culminating in the First World War. Demographic changes were of concern to many, as newer immigrants from Italy, Poland, and Asia outpaced more traditional immigration from the United Kingdom and Germany. Disruptions caused by urbanization and industrialization reverberated throughout the country and the world, with some activists calling for an end to the capitalistic system. These issues are similar to ones dominating today's headlines. Currently the world is engaged in a global war on terrorism with the possibility of further conflict in Iraq, India, Pakistan, and elsewhere. The percentage of the U.S. population that was foreign-born in 2000 was at its highest level since 1930, with much of it coming from relatively new sources, including Mexico and other Latin American countries. (1) Concerns about the impact of globalization and the global economy have led to well-publicized protest rallies at world economic gatherings. These similarities should not be exaggerated; there are obvious and subtle differences between the two time periods and the issues they faced. However, as the country considers how to respond to the challenges of the twenty-first century, it is instructive to re-examine how our early colleagues responded to theirs. It is impossible to categorically state how every library or librarian over a span of twenty years responded to the complex issues raised by war, industrialization, urbanization, population growth, and demographic change. A more practical approach is to look at the attitudes expressed by librarians in publications aimed at the larger library profession; publications such as Library Journal, Public Libraries, and the Bulletin of the American Library Association. An examination of these sources reveals what librarians were saying to each other on these issues. For this study, published accounts of the libraries in Chicago were examined to test the impact of this national rhetoric on local realities. The strategies, policies, and practices implemented in Chicago illustrate one way that librarians applied the rhetoric found in the library literature to their own changing environment. An analysis focusing on the library literature naturally omits some voices, most notably those who were not inclined to have their opinions published and debated in public. It is difficult to ascertain just how closely the opinions expressed in print by a few matched those held by the larger library community. The authors of the publications examined for this study did come from a variety of positions and geographic regions. Library administrators are prominent, but the list of contributors includes a staff assistant, a supervisor of a children's department, and representatives from interested private and governmental agencies describing their work with libraries. …
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