Introduction: sources and methodologies for the history of libraries in the modern era

pp 1-6

1 - Libraries and the modern world

pp 7-18

Part One - Enlightening the Masses: the Public Library as Concept and Reality

2 - Introduction: the public library in concept and reality

pp 19-23

3 - The people's university: models of public library history

pp 24-39

4 - Libraries for leisure time

pp 40-55

5 - High seriousness: the reference and information role of the public library 1850–2000

pp 56-71

6 - Extending the public library 1850–1930

pp 72-81

7 - Public library outreach and extension 1930–2000

pp 82-91

8 - Public library services for children

pp 92-109

9 - Public library people 1850–1919

pp 110-120

Part Two - The Voluntary Ethic: Libraries of our Own

10 - Introduction: libraries of our own

pp 121-124

11 - Circulating libraries in the Victorian age and after

pp 125-146

12 - The subscription libraries and their members

pp 147-168

13 - Radical reading? Working-class libraries in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries

pp 169-179

14 - Private libraries and the collecting instinct

pp 180-202

Part Three - Libraries for National Needs: Library Provision in the Public Sphere in the Countries of the British Isles

15 - Introduction: library provision in the countries of the British Isles

pp 203-205

16 - The library scene in an English city: Newcastle upon Tyne libraries 1850–2000

pp 206-215

17 - Public libraries in Wales since 1862

pp 216-226

18 - The National Library of Wales

pp 227-234

19 - The Scottish library scene

pp 235-244

20 - The National Library of Scotland

pp 245-252

21 - The Irish library scene

pp 253-265

22 - The National Library of Ireland

pp 266-276

Part Four - The Nation's Treasury: Britain's National Library as Concept and Reality

23 - Introduction: Britain's national library as concept and reality

pp 277-280

24 - The British Museum Library 1857–1973

pp 281-298