ABSTRACT
The development of the library as a public building is almost as old as writing itself. The early libraries in Alexandria and the Ancient Near East were not only storehouses of books, but were attached to museums and meeting places, and acted as cultural centres in the cities. The rise of the large civic libraries in the second half of the nineteenth century across Europe and beyond became symbolic of the enlightenment and the desire to spread knowledge to all sections of society. They were part of an improving and moralising culture which found architectural form in imposing neo-classical buildings replete with historical references. For many thinkers and writers, public libraries were the new cathedrals of the city. From their formation they were regarded as safe and quiet places, distinct and separate from the pressures of daily life, where self-improvement and study could flourish. In this world capturing the loyalty of children to the library ethos was often central to their mission.
