Carlyle, Panizzi, and the Public Library Ideal

Abstract

The London Library was created to be a democratic institution serving the common man. It?s founder, Thomas Carlyle, disagreed vehemently with the British Museum?s Librarian, Utilitarian Antonio Panizzi about the role of the library in society and the need for a quiet reading room for the public. Panizzi is better remembered in the field of library science, but Caryle?s ideals are alive in public libraries today.