Library Science and Culture: Exploring the Art and Science of Libraries

Laura Bush was a librarian

Laura Bush was a librarian before becoming the First Lady of the United States. She earned a Master's in Library Science from the University of Texas at Austin in 1973 and worked as a librarian in public and academic libraries. In the 1980s, she was the librarian at the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., where her husband, George W. Bush, served on the board of trustees. Laura Bush has advocated for literacy and education throughout her career, and she used her position as First Lady to promote reading and library programs. In 2001, she established the National Book Festival, an annual event that celebrates books and reading and brings together authors, illustrators, and readers from across the country.

The American Library Association (ALA) website has a profile of Laura Bush that describes her education and career as a librarian: https://www.ala.org/aboutala/laura-bush

The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum website has a section on Laura Bush's life and career, which includes information about her work as a librarian: https://www.georgewbushlibrary.smu.edu/en/Research/Research-Collections/Laura-Bush/Laura-Bush.aspx

The Library of Congress website has a page about the National Book Festival, which Laura Bush founded in 2001: https://www.loc.gov/events/2021-national-book-festival/about-this-event/

The New York Times published an article in 2001 about Laura Bush's passion for books and her career as a librarian: https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/26/us/2001-national-book-festival-mrs-bush-s-other-passion-promoting-books.html

Benjamin Franklin was a librarian

Benjamin Franklin was a librarian. In 1731, he and a group of fellow intellectuals in Philadelphia founded the Library Company of Philadelphia, the first subscription library in the United States. Franklin served as the company's librarian for many years and donated many books from his personal collection to the library. The Library Company of Philadelphia played an essential role in the cultural and intellectual life of the city, and it served as a model for many other libraries that were established in the United States in the following years.

The Library Company of Philadelphia's website provides a brief history of the organization, including its founding by Franklin and others in 1731: https://librarycompany.org/about/history/

The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary website, created to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Franklin's birth, includes a section on Franklin's contributions to the development of libraries in America: https://www.benfranklin300.org/frankliniana/result.php?id=178

The National Endowment for the Humanities' EDSITEment website includes a lesson plan on Franklin's involvement in the establishment of the Library Company of Philadelphia: https://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/benjamin-franklin-and-library-company-philadelphia

The University of Pennsylvania Libraries website has a page on the Library Company of Philadelphia, with information on its history and holdings: https://www.library.upenn.edu/about/programmatic-units/library-company-philadelphia

Mao Zedong Was A Librarian

Mao Zedong worked as a librarian during his early years before he became involved in politics. In 1918, Mao moved to Beijing and worked as an assistant librarian at the Peking University Library. During this time, he spent much time reading and studying Marxist theory, which would later influence his political ideology. Mao's time as a librarian allowed him access to a wide range of books and information, which helped shape his understanding of the world and his views on society. Although his time as a librarian was relatively short, it significantly impacted Mao's intellectual development and his later role as a political leader in China.

Sources

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mao-Zedong

https://www.nytimes.com/1976/09/10/archives/mao-tsetung-father-of-chinese-revolution-leader-of-long-march-based.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/mao_zedong.shtml

https://www.biography.com/political-figures/mao-tse-tung