Overview

A gorgeous visual celebration of America's public libraries including 150 photos, plus essays by Bill Moyers, Ann Patchett, Anne Lamott, Amy Tan, Barbara Kingsolver, and many more.

Many of us have vivid recollections of childhood visits to a public library: the unmistakable musty scent, the excitement of checking out a stack of newly discovered books. Today, the more than 17,000 libraries in America also function as de facto community centers offering free access to the internet, job-hunting assistance, or a warm place to take shelter. And yet, across the country, cities large and small are closing public libraries or curtailing their hours of operation. Over the last eighteen years, photographer Robert Dawson has crisscrossed the country documenting hundreds of these endangered institutions. The Public Library presents a wide selection of Dawson's photographs-- from the majestic reading room at the New York Public Library to Allensworth, California's one-room Tulare County Free Library built by former slaves. Accompanying Dawson's revealing photographs are essays, letters, and poetry by some of America's most celebrated writers. A foreword by Bill Moyers and an afterword by Ann Patchett bookend this important survey of a treasured American institution.

ISBN-13

9781616892173

ISBN-10

161689217X

Weight

2.04 Pounds

Dimensions

8.25 x 1.00 x 9.50 In

List Price

$35.00

Edition

1st Edition

Format

Hardcover

Language

English

Pages

192 pages

Publisher

Princeton Architectural Press

Published On

2014-04-08



View All Offers

Sort by:

Rows per page:

1–5 of 5

Condition
Seller
Seller Comments
Price
Used, Good
Seller details
Dream Books Co.
★★★★★

Denver, CO, USA

Gently used with minimal wear on the corners and cover. A few pages may contain light highlighting...
$10.06

 Free delivery by: 01 Apr 2026

Used, Very Good
Seller details
HPB-Ruby
★★★★☆

Dallas, TX, USA

Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and ...
$11.30

 Free delivery by: 01 Apr 2026

Used, Very Good
Seller details
Half Price Books Inc
★★★★☆

Dallas, TX, USA

Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and ...
$11.30

 Free delivery by: 01 Apr 2026

Used, Very Good
Seller details
HPB Inc.
★★★★☆

Dallas, TX, USA

Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and ...
$12.04

 Free delivery by: 01 Apr 2026


Bookstores.com relies on cookies to improve your experience.