Beginnings of public libraries : the birth of « popular » public libraries.

Envisaged during the I8th century, the « popular » library does not outgrow its ideological motivations and foundations any more than building plans and programs before the issuing of a bill on 3 I May I860. This bill officializes the creation of « popular » libraries by bringing out the main elements of progress: emergence of library networks, town network in Paris, importance of Societies and Friends of the library (Société Franklin, société des bibliothèques communales du Haut-Rhin, ligue de l'enseignement, sociétés catholiques). It also defines the laws and regulations necessary to control and to manage these libraries.
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