ROBERT DAWSON PHOTOGRAPHY

PUBLIC LIBRARY: AN AMERICAN COMMONS

This project is a photographic and historical survey of public libraries throughout the United States. The resulting book, The Public Library: A PHotographic Essay was published by Princeton Architectural Press in 2014. Over the last eighteen years I visited 48 states where I have documented hundreds of public libraries - some monumental and modest, from the reading room at the New York Public Library to Allensworth, California's one-room Tulare County Free Library, built by former slaves. Essays, letters and poetry by distinguished writers and librarians complete this tribute to a vibrant but threatened American institution.

As a photographer, I have committed my life's work to examining "the commons" - the things that we share as a nation - our infrastructure, our culture - the things that keep our society civil and working. For communities across the country, libraries offer free access to informatioin and education, a sanctuary, and hope for the future. They are some of the few non-commercial, non-religious public spaces that we have left.

Libraries are local but I chose to view this system as a whole. While each library has its own unique set of needs the nation-wide system of local libraries constitutes an important part of a healthy society. In the nineteenth century there was a stong correlation between the public library movement and the movement for public eduation. People understood that the future of democracy is contingent on an educated citizenry. They also felt that every citizen should have the right of free access to community-owned resources. These ideas coalesced into today's public libraries which function as a system of non-commercial centers that help us define what we value and what we share.

However, libraries are under attack. During the Great Depression, not a single library was closed. Now, as wealth becomes concentrated in the hands of fewer people, what is left for the rest of us? No matter our political persuasions or cultural differences, libraries connect us all. This is our American Commons.

The book contains 150 of my photographs and a forward by Bill Moyers and an afterword by Ann Patchett. Additional contributors include Isaac Asimov, Walker Dawson, Luis Herrera, Barbara Kingsolver, Anne Lamott, Dorothy Lazard, Philip Levine, David Morris, Stuart A.P. Murray, Kelvin K. Selders, Dr. Seuss, Charles Simic, Amy Tan, Chip Ward and E.B. White.

In 2015, the Library of Congress in Washington, DC purchased the entire Public Library project archive for their permanent collection.

"This collection of photographs and text of and about libraries - grand or dead, faded or sumptuous - make up a narrative that combines the public sphere and private memory. Robert Dawson's work is an irrerfutable argument for the preservation of public libraries. His book is profound and heartbreakingly beautiful. "
- Toni Morrison

Click here to view the book and album.
The Public Library<br>A Photographic Essay, Library in town built by ex-slaves, Allensworth, California, Smallest library, now closed, Hartland Four Corners, Vermont, First Carnegie Library, Braddock, PA, Branch library, Family Dollar and Super Bingo, Abilene, TX, Ceiling, Main Reading Room, Main Library, New York, New York, Ceiling outside Children's Room, Main Library, Los Angeles, California, Main library, Los Angeles, California, Library, Death Valley National Park, CA, Katrina damaged library, New Orleans, Louisiana, Sculpture, library and cliffs, Springdale, UT, Mendota, California, Key West, Florida, Main computer room, Chicago, Illinois, Back of Central Library, Seattle, Washington, Gargoyle, Woburn, Massachusetts, Lending Library, Occupy Tuscon - Tucson, AZ, Interior, Woburn, Massachusetts, Boron, California, San Antonio, TX, Athenaeum/Library, St. Johnsbury, Vermont, The Rifle Lesson, West Wendover, NV (diptych), Reading lesson, Portrero Hill, San Francisco, California, "Leer es Poder" (Reading is Power) sign, El Rito, NM, Evansville, IN, Destroyed Mark Twain branch, Detroit, MI, No Job, No Money, No Car - Detroit, MI, Las Cruces, NM, Library in snowstorm, South Lake Tahoe, California, Library, Yosemite National Park, California, Entrance, Main library, San Francisco, California, Civil War mural, Lowell, MA, Bookmobile, Baker, Nevada, Library of quilts, Half Moon Bay, California, Library mural, Moose Pass, Alaska, Library built on border, Derby Line, Vermont-Quebec, Library, South Dos Palos, California, Jefferson Market branch library, New York, New York, Seward Park Carnegie library, New York, New York, Harold Washington Learning Center, Chicago, Illinois, Child and scaffolding, Blackstone branch library, Chicago, Illinois, Ocean Park Carnegie library, Santa Monica, California, Entrance, Main Library, Brooklyn, New York, Former church, now library, Felton, California, Chinese books, Queens Public Library, Flushing, New York, New York, New Deal era paintings, Long Beach, California, High school/public library, Lee Vining, California, Head of books, Salt Lake City, Utah, Library and Wasatch Mountains, Salt Lake City, Utah, Coffee shop and library, Salt Lake City, Utah, Large photographs, African-American History Museum and Library, Oakland, California, Seed Lending Library, Richmond Public Library, Richmond, CA, Frank Lloyd Wright designed library in Civic Center, San Rafael, California, Librarians, Tool Lending Library, Berkeley, CA, Geodesic dome library, Beatty, Nevada, War memorial in front of library, Chelsea, Vermont, Cowboy hat in reading room, Main Library, Cleveland, OH, Librarian, Cleveland, OH, Chess set collection, Main Library, Cleveland, OH, Church and Main Library, Providence, RI, Exterior of library at night, Santa Fe, NM, Post, TX, George Washington Carver branch, Austin, TX, Main Library, Muskogee, OK, Willard Library, Evansville, IN, Local history, Laconia, NH (triptych), Main Library, Newark, NJ, West branch Carnegie Library, Louisville, KY, Solar panels, mine tailings and library, Round Mountain, NV, Yarborough branch, Austin, TX, Algiers Temporary Library, New Orleans, LA, Armijo branch, El Paso, TX, Booneville, KY, Stairway, Midland, TX, Brumbach Library, Van Wert, OH, Williamson, WV, Carnegie Library, Bryan, TX, Columns from old library, Little Rock, AR, Carnegie Library, Las Vegas, NM, Community Library, Hostel, & Shop, Vershire, VT, Haley Library and History Center, Midland, TX, Darby Free Library, Darby, PA, World's first tax-supported public library, Peterborough, NH, Field Memorial Library, Conway, MA, Town tapestry, Wewoka, OK, Library in former train station, Caliente, NV, Library in heat wave: no AC, no computers, lights out to keep cool, Tchula, MS, Kettleman City, CA (diptych), Main Library, Newark, NJ, Meeting in library, Newport, VT, New and old libraries, Tahlequah, OK (diptych), Pojouque Pueblo, NM, Tenny Memorial Library, Newbury, VT, The Handley Library, Winchester, VA, Murals in Main Library, Detroit, MI, Orleans Street branch, Baltimore, MD, Reading sculpture, Gardiner, ME, Laconia, NH, Library, Weeping Water, NB, Fountain of Knowledge, Biblioteca Latinoamericana Branch Library, San Jose, CA, Redwoods, Mill Valley Public Library, Mill Valley, CA , Central Library, Milwaukee, WI, Interior dome, Central Library, Milwaukee, WI, Lynch Public Library, Lynch, NE, Storrs Library, Longmeadow, MA, Rico Public Library and City Hall, Rico, CO, Glendive Public Library in former bank, Glendive, MT, Letts Public Library and community room, Letts, IA, Grand Canyon Community Library, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ, Back of Garwin Public Library, Garwin, IA, Miss Cass Lake winners, Cass Lake Community Library, Cass Lake, MN, Main Library, Minneapolis, MN, Library, Chelsea, IA, After Hurricane Sandy, Queens Library bookmobile, the Rockaways, Queens, NY, Abandoned Prairie Library, Amidon, ND, Abandoned library in deserted town, Jeffrey City, WY, Main Library, Duluth, MN, Abandoned library, Sunflower, MS, Self portrait in abandoned library, Sunflower, MS, Amador City Hall and Library, Amador City, CA, Ancient Art sign and library, Abiquiu, NM, Book sculpture in front of library, Hillsboro, TX, Book sculputre, Iowa City, IA, Carnegie Library with addition, Miles City, MT, Carnegie Library, Grass Valley, CA, Carnegie Library, Wallace, ID, Carnegie working man statue. Allegheny, Pittsburgh, PA, Children's entrance, Thomas Crane, Quincy, MA, CHS Band, Clarksdale, MS, Computers, Boulder, CO, Defiance, OH, Entrance, Kansas City, MO, Entrance, Portland, OR, Five walls of library, Aliquippa, PA, Former gas station, now library, Halls, TN, Former library, now Arts Heritage Center, Ada, OK, Gold Rush town Library, Ione, CA, Interior, Rudy's Library, Monowi, NE pano, John Steinbeck Library, Salinas CA, La Pointe, WI, Librarian and guard, Avondale branch, Cincinatti, OH, Librarian, Tecopa Hot Spring CA, Library and park next to Marine Base, 29 Palms CA, Library in former church, Kiowa, CO, Library in former jail, Bluff, UT, Library-Post Office, Scott Bar, CA, Library, Beach, ND, Library, Fairplay, CO, Library, Redlands CA, Library, Salton City, CA, Library, Trona CA, Main Library, Butte, MT, Man on ladder, Hall Library, Chicago, IL, Manhattan, NV, Michigan mural, Main Library, Detroit, MI, Millicent Library, Fairhaven, MA (diptych), Model, Carondolet branch library, St. Louis, MO, Municipal Complex (former strip mall), Seligman, MO, Oblique view, Deer Lodge, MT, Old Dakota Club Library, Eagle Butte, SD, Our Heritage tapestry, Harlan, KY, Painting, arch, computers, and Benjamin Franklin's donated books, Franklin, MA, Reader sculpture, Coalinga, CA, Reading Room, Main Library, Philadelphia. PA, Record heat wave, armed guard at door and air conditioning, Franklin branch, Detroit, MI, Remains of destroyed library, Bosler, WY, Rudy's Library, Monowi, NE, Tripp, SD, Tuba City, AZ, Vinland, KS, Walker on wifi at the Morrill Memorial & Harris Library, Strafford, VT, Western History Center, Main Library, Denver, CO, Weedpatch Camp, New Deal (WPA) labor camp. Library on left, returning former Dust Bowl refugees on right, near Arvin, CA (diptych), Tule River Reservation, CA (dipytch), Back of Carnegie Library restoration, El Centro, CA, Exterior, African-American Museum and Library (old Main Carnegie), Oakland, CA, Grafton Public Library, Grafton, NH, Main Library at night, Fargo, ND, Mulberry Street Library, New York, NY, Rainbow Branch Library, Las Vegas, NV, Roscoe Public Library (one of the smallest libraries in the US), Roscoe, SD, Statues of workers, Internet Archive, San Francisco, CA, Library and barn, Newbern Public Library, Newbern, AL 2019, Self portrait, Newbern Public Library, Newbern, AL 2019, Eclectic Public Library, Eclectic, AL 2019, Hale County Public Library, Greensboro, AL 2019, Librarian, Hale County Public Library, Greensboro, AL 2019, Old Public Library, Birmingham, AL 2019, Librarian, Public Library, Selma, AL 2019, Community quilt, Public Library, Selma, AL 2019, Cover of Public Library: An American Commons album, Library, Willow, AK, Washoe County Library, Reno, NV, Art in atrium, Central Library, Los Angeles, CA, Atrium, Main Library, Salt Lake City, UT, B.S. Ricks Memorial Library exterior, Yazoo City, MS , Baker branch, Bakersfield, CA , Library, Big Sur, CA (diptych), Library , Tiburon, CA, Parking garage near Main Library, Kansas City, MO, Books, B.S. Ricks Memorial Library, Yazoo City, MS, Library, Itta Bena, MS (BB King's birthplace), Brookside branch, Tulsa, OK , A.B. Safford Memorial Library, Cairo, IL, Humphreys County Library (catfish capitol of the world and highest rate of children in poverty in US), Belzoni, MS, Dale Chihuly sculpture, Main Library, San Antonio, TX , Main Library, Providence, RI , Closed city library system, Camden Free Public Library Camden, NJ, Community Room, Central Library, Seattle, WA, Entrance,, Harold Washington Learning Center, Chicago, IL, Richards Free Library, Newport, NH , Main Library, Boston, MA, Ernie Pyle branch library, Albuquerque, NM , Esparanza Moreno branch library, El Paso. TX, Enfield Public Library, Exterior, Enfield, NH, Library (one of the wealthiest areas in the country), Portola Valley, CA , Exterior of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, San Jose, CA, Fairlee Public Library, Fairlee, VT, Fannie Lou Hamer Library (in pouring rain), Jackson, MS, The first Little Free Library, Hudson, WI , Fishtown branch library, Philadelphia, PA, Reeves County Library (cowboy boots and flags), Pecos, TX, Foreign language books, Harold Washington Learning Center, Chicago, IL, Former smallest library in US, now a real estate office, Inverness, CA, Library, Kerman, CA, Library in mall, Galleria at Sunset Mall, Henderson, NV , Octavia Felin Public Library, Gallup, NM, Library (diptych, cowboy statues), Gilette, WY, Hannibal Free Public Library, Hannibal, MO , Howe Public Library Hanover NH , Hyde Park branch library, Los Angeles, CA, Native American reading, Haines Borough Public Library, Haines, AK , Interior , Main Library, Salt Lake City, UT, Librarian, Northeast Nevada Regional Bookmobile, Baker, NV, Kern County Library, Delano Branch, Delano, CA, Library and Childrens Museum, Las Vegas, NV , Sprague Branch Library, Salt Lake City, UT, Merced branch library, Gustine, CA, Town of Canaan Library and City Hall, Canaan, NH, Library built by WPA, Buttonwillow, CA, Sutton Public Library and truck, Sutton, AK, Public Library closed by Katrina, Biloxi, MS, Beowawe Branch Library, Beowawe, NV, Library, Alpaugh, CA (diptych), Local authors, North Beach, San Francisco, CA, Forest Lodge Library, Cable, WI , Los Altos Public Library, Los Altos, CA, Liquor store sign and Mahnomen Library, Mahnomen, MN , Main Carnegie Library of Pittsburg,, Pittsburgh, PA , Exterior, Main Library, Detroit, MI , Meyer Memorial Library, Calipatria, CA, Mural, Bernal Heights, San Francisco, CA, Library "Dead Whale or a Stove Boat", New Bedford, MA, North branch library, Berkeley, CA (diptych), Peabody Library, Post Mills, VT, Oklahoma Room, Oklahoma City, OK , Cossitt branch library (old and new), , Memphis, TN, Chess Room, passed-out man, Main Library, Baltimore, MD, Interior, Main Library, Portland, OR, Henry M. Seymour Library (readers sculpture), Indianola, MS , Redwood tree, now pillar on spot where it grew, Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, Reading and reflection, Western Addition branch, San Francisco, CA, Interior, Peterborough library, Peterborough, NH, Steinbeck rug, Dr. Marin Luther King, Jr. Library, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, Schomburg Center and Library, Harlem, New York, NY , Library, Shepherdstown, WV, Empty lot - home of former library, North St. Louis, MO, Central Library, St. Paul, MN , Stack of books mural, Shaw branch, Washington, DC, Stage, Carnegie Library (100th Birthday), Stamford, TX , Stairway, Main Library, Providence, RI , Stonewall Jackson painting, Hadley Library, Winchester, VA , The Justin Morrill Memorial & Harris Library, Strafford, VT, Trophies, Abandoned library, Burchard, NE, Library, Truth or Consequences, NM, Vermont Square Carnegie Branch Library, Los Angeles, CA, Library, Wauseon, OH , Window, Visitation Valley, San Francisco, CA , Witney branch library, Las Vegas, NV, The Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, VT.