Harry M. Lydenberg
Encyclopedia
Harry Miller Lydenberg was an American librarian
, author
and book conservationist
. He is best known for his decades-long career as a librarian and eventual director for the New York Public Library
, American liaison to the international library community, as well as one of the 100 most important library innovators of the 20th century. His written works describe his preferred library reference, collection
and conservation practices, as well as his knowledge of the New York Public Library
.
. As highlighted in Phyllis Dain’s biographical and historical account of Lydenberg’s life, entitled, “Harry M. Lydenberg and American library resources: a study in modern library leadership”, his early life necessitated that he learn what it meant to make do with very little and to conserve resources. As Lydenberg would be heard to quote later in his life, “Libraries as well as individuals must adjust themselves to circumstances, and will see their ideals affected by the conditions under which they try to realize those ideals.” As he applied these words to his career and work, so too did these words encompass the way Harry Lydenberg lived his life, from his youth through his career.
One of his earliest jobs, delivering newspapers, set the stage for what would be a long career working with the written word, and the mechanics of printing. In his later teen years, Harry worked as a page for the Dayton Public Library, eventually going on to attend Harvard, where he continued to work in the college library, gaining knowledge of library organization and the importance of a well tended library collection. He graduated a year early in 1896 from his four year program, while simultaneously earning the title of magna cum laude.
(NYPL). The director, John Shaw Billings
, took notice of Lydenberg’s demonstrated dedication to the library field. According to Dain and verified by the 1916 Handbook of the New York Public Library, NYPL was experiencing a major consolidation, as the Lennox and Astor Libraries, through private endowments and the Tilden Trust, were merged to create the “new corporation” called the “New York Public Library, Astor, Lennox and Tilden Foundation”. Lydenberg became Shaw’s personal assistant as well as the head of reference. He and Shaw, along with the library’s other main figure, Assistant Director Edwin Hatfield Anderson saw the library through its early years after the consolidation.
, Lydenberg exemplifies this collection development philosophy. When addressing the specific selection of medical books for NYPL, he warned against retaining or purchasing every book on medicine. Instead he added only those medical books that were interdisciplinary, and encompassed other fields of knowledge. He knew there were plenty of medical institutions that contained purely technical books, and therefore it was not necessary to have them in the public library’s collection. Thus, he was able meet the research needs of his patrons without accumulating materials already available in other institutions. Lydenberg goes on to address in his essay, “The opportunity beckons loud here to demonstrate how necessary is the cooperation between the general and special collection.” Another of Lydenberg’s areas of expertise was the preservation of books. According to his colleague, Keyes Metcalf
, he oversaw multiple studies pertaining to such subjects as general conservation, paper and leather selection and temperature control. Additionally, he authored several books on these subjects, one of the most notable being, The Care and repair of books, which he co-authored with John Archer, who was then head of NYPL’s printing office
Lydenberg is quoted in his own chapter of The Wonderful World of Books, (entitled, “Library Work as a Profession”) as advising:
He and Archer are also credited with the generous use of early photocopying technology and color printing.
from 1931–1932. He continued to see NYPL not only through the issues unique to the management of a large urban library, but also through years war recovery and economic uncertainty. His tenure lasted until his retirement in 1941. For two years after, he served as director of Biblioteca Benjamin Franklin in Mexico City
, Mexico. Lydenberg also held the position of the director of the Board of International Relations of the American Library Association
from 1943–1946. His years as director of NYPL had prepared him well for this position, as it was a time when the United States (and most specifically public institutions) was collectively experiencing a great period of sacrifice and fiscal belt-tightening. He had previously visited Europe post World War I
to study book buying and preservation practices. He felt librarians could enhance American library collections and maintenance practices by learning what other counties did with their information and physical books, especially during war time. He acknowledged in is 1945 essay, “The Library Rehabilitation Programme of the American Library Association”, “Librarians have joyfully agreed that common efforts, concerted action, rather than rampant rivalry, are necessary in connection with future purchases when the time is ripe for what we may call ordinary buying.”
Books This book is a collection and rewrite of a series of articles which appeared in the Bulletin of the New York Public Library:
Essays and Articles
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and book conservationist
Preservation (library and archival science)
Preservation is a branch of library and information science concerned with maintaining or restoring access to artifacts, documents and records through the study, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of decay and damage....
. He is best known for his decades-long career as a librarian and eventual director for the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
, American liaison to the international library community, as well as one of the 100 most important library innovators of the 20th century. His written works describe his preferred library reference, collection
Library collection development
Library collection development is the process of meeting the information needs of the people in a timely and economical manner using information resources locally held, as well as from other organizations....
and conservation practices, as well as his knowledge of the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
.
Early life
Harry Miller Lydenberg was born in Dayton, OhioDayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. As highlighted in Phyllis Dain’s biographical and historical account of Lydenberg’s life, entitled, “Harry M. Lydenberg and American library resources: a study in modern library leadership”, his early life necessitated that he learn what it meant to make do with very little and to conserve resources. As Lydenberg would be heard to quote later in his life, “Libraries as well as individuals must adjust themselves to circumstances, and will see their ideals affected by the conditions under which they try to realize those ideals.” As he applied these words to his career and work, so too did these words encompass the way Harry Lydenberg lived his life, from his youth through his career.
One of his earliest jobs, delivering newspapers, set the stage for what would be a long career working with the written word, and the mechanics of printing. In his later teen years, Harry worked as a page for the Dayton Public Library, eventually going on to attend Harvard, where he continued to work in the college library, gaining knowledge of library organization and the importance of a well tended library collection. He graduated a year early in 1896 from his four year program, while simultaneously earning the title of magna cum laude.
New beginnings at the New York Public Library
Upon graduating, Harry gained employment with the New York Public LibraryNew York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
(NYPL). The director, John Shaw Billings
John Shaw Billings
John Shaw Billings was an American librarian and surgeon best known as the modernizer of the Library of the Surgeon General's Office of the Army and as the first director of the New York Public Library.-Biography:...
, took notice of Lydenberg’s demonstrated dedication to the library field. According to Dain and verified by the 1916 Handbook of the New York Public Library, NYPL was experiencing a major consolidation, as the Lennox and Astor Libraries, through private endowments and the Tilden Trust, were merged to create the “new corporation” called the “New York Public Library, Astor, Lennox and Tilden Foundation”. Lydenberg became Shaw’s personal assistant as well as the head of reference. He and Shaw, along with the library’s other main figure, Assistant Director Edwin Hatfield Anderson saw the library through its early years after the consolidation.
Career advancements
Lydenberg was promoted to Assistant Director in 1928. One of his main goals included building a collection that was based upon need and usability rather than quantity of ownership. In a speech entitled, “Interrelation of Medical and Public Libraries”, given to the Medical Library AssociationMedical Library Association
The Medical Library Association is a nonprofit, educational organization with more than 4,000 health sciences information professional members and partners worldwide.- History :...
, Lydenberg exemplifies this collection development philosophy. When addressing the specific selection of medical books for NYPL, he warned against retaining or purchasing every book on medicine. Instead he added only those medical books that were interdisciplinary, and encompassed other fields of knowledge. He knew there were plenty of medical institutions that contained purely technical books, and therefore it was not necessary to have them in the public library’s collection. Thus, he was able meet the research needs of his patrons without accumulating materials already available in other institutions. Lydenberg goes on to address in his essay, “The opportunity beckons loud here to demonstrate how necessary is the cooperation between the general and special collection.” Another of Lydenberg’s areas of expertise was the preservation of books. According to his colleague, Keyes Metcalf
Keyes Metcalf
Keyes DeWitt Metcalf was an American librarian. He has been identified as one of the 100 most important leaders in librarianship by the journal American Libraries. In a career spanning over 75 years, he worked in various roles at the New York Public Library and served as the director of the...
, he oversaw multiple studies pertaining to such subjects as general conservation, paper and leather selection and temperature control. Additionally, he authored several books on these subjects, one of the most notable being, The Care and repair of books, which he co-authored with John Archer, who was then head of NYPL’s printing office
Lydenberg is quoted in his own chapter of The Wonderful World of Books, (entitled, “Library Work as a Profession”) as advising:
He and Archer are also credited with the generous use of early photocopying technology and color printing.
Major accomplishments
Lydenberg became the Director of NYPL in 1934. This followed his year as president of the American Library AssociationAmerican Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
from 1931–1932. He continued to see NYPL not only through the issues unique to the management of a large urban library, but also through years war recovery and economic uncertainty. His tenure lasted until his retirement in 1941. For two years after, he served as director of Biblioteca Benjamin Franklin in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Mexico. Lydenberg also held the position of the director of the Board of International Relations of the American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
from 1943–1946. His years as director of NYPL had prepared him well for this position, as it was a time when the United States (and most specifically public institutions) was collectively experiencing a great period of sacrifice and fiscal belt-tightening. He had previously visited Europe post World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
to study book buying and preservation practices. He felt librarians could enhance American library collections and maintenance practices by learning what other counties did with their information and physical books, especially during war time. He acknowledged in is 1945 essay, “The Library Rehabilitation Programme of the American Library Association”, “Librarians have joyfully agreed that common efforts, concerted action, rather than rampant rivalry, are necessary in connection with future purchases when the time is ripe for what we may call ordinary buying.”
Remembrance
Lydenberg died in 1960 at the age of 86. A collection of essays written by his colleagues entitled, Bookmen’s Holiday: Notes and Studies Written and Gathered in Tribute to Harry Miller Lydenberg about individual experiences in librarianship, was written in honor of his retirement from the New York Public Library, as well as the practice of librarianship in all its forms.Selected works
Credit for the works listed in this list of selected works is given to George L.McKay, a Manhattan printer and engraver who worked closely with Lydenberg. The complete list of Lydenberg's works, compiled by Mr. McKay, may be found on pages 5–26 of the 1943 edition of Bookmen's Holiday: notes and studies written and gathered in tribute to Harry Miller Lydenberg.Books This book is a collection and rewrite of a series of articles which appeared in the Bulletin of the New York Public Library:
-
- With a biographical appendix.
- With a statistical appendix.
- The Care and repair of books
- Paper or sawdust: a plea for good paper for good books
- John Shaw Billings and the New York Public Library
Essays and Articles
- "Reference work in the New York Public Library."
- "Russian libraries today."
- "Saving the newspaper files for posterity."
- "Responsibility of the library to continue the literary tradition."
- "Librarians and educators: a librarian's view of both."