ROBERT DAWSON PHOTOGRAPHY

GLOBAL LIBRARY PROJECT

This project seeks to document the important role of public libraries throughout the world in engaging and supporting an informed citizenry. By providing unrestricted access to information, offering literacy and educational support, and advocating for free and uncensored speech, the shared commons of a public library is one of the last non-commercial public spaces we have in our increasingly privatized global society. Of particular interest to the project is how social, cultural, historic and political issues have shaped a librarys role in the community. This project grew out of Robert Dawsons 18-year The Public Library: An American Commonsa photographic project published as The Public Library: A Photographic Essay by Princeton Architectural Press in 2014. Dawsons earlier work focused on the shared commons of the landscape and environment of the American West, and on global water issues. He then applied this concept of a shared responsibility to a documentation of the American public library system.

In 2016 Dawson began The Global Library Projectwith his wife Ellen Manchester, co-director and curator and their son Walker Dawson, videographer andresearcher. They traveled to Belgium, Holland, France, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Ukraine and Moscow. Their journey took themfrom a library in the infamous refugee camp called the Jungle in Calais, France to Holocaust-haunted former synagogues turned into libraries in Poland to libraries close to the hot war in eastern Ukraine to the National Library of Russia called the Lenin Library. Special attention was given to the role of European libraries in assimilating the large numbers of refugees fleeing poverty and war. Two years later, Dawson was awarded a 2018 - 2019 Fulbright Global Scholar Fellowship. It allowed Dawson and Manchester to photograph for six months the role of libraries throughout Greece, Italy and Israel. In the summer of 2019 Dawson and Manchester photographed libraries in Mexico and throughout Canada. A book proposal oftheir work from North America and Europe,calledLibrary Road Trip: The Global Library Project, has been developed and is currently being marketed to publishers.Work from the project will be presented in a series of traveling exhibitions, videos, public programs, lectures, blogs as well as book publications.

In the future the project will explore the role of libraries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Oceana, South and Central America.

"Who knows where the emerging new commons will take us? But Robert Dawson shows us in this collection what is at stake: when a library is open, no matter its size or shape, democracy is open, too."
- Bill Moyers

Scroll down to view images.
Click here to view the Global Library Project album.
The Empty Library, memorial to Nazi book burning, Berlin, Germany, Abby Library of St. Gall, Switzerland, City Library, Stuttgart, Germany, Wimblingen Monastery Library, near Ulm, Germany, Books destroyed during WW I, Verdun, France, Tiles inside Carnegie Library, Reims, France, Bi-lingual book, National Library, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, Library of the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, Book burned by German soldiers in WWI, Leuven, Belgium, Molenbeek Public Library, Brussels, Belgium, Jungle Books Library, The Jungle refugee camp, Calais, France, Refugees and tutors, Jungle Books, The Jungle refugee camp, Calais, France, Exhausted tutor at the end of a long day, Jungle Books Library, The Jungle refugee camp, Calais, France, Hendrik Conscience History Library, Antwerp, Belgium, Exterior, Book Mountain, Spijkenesse, The Netherlands, Book Mountain, Spijkenesse, The Netherlands, Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam (OBA), The Netherlands, Library in train station, Haarlem, The Netherlands (triptych), Ets Haim Library, Amsterdam, The Netherlands-collection lost to Germany during WWII but now returned, Syrian refugee and German tutor in library, Germany, Study Center, Duchess Anna Amalia Library, Weimar, Germany, Interior, old Anna Amilia Library, Weimar, Germany, Former police station, now library, Bremen, Germany, Book boxes for refugees, Bremen, Germany, Hansestadt Library, Lübeck, Germany, Public Library, Rostock, Germany , Amerika Library, Berlin, Germany - built with American money before the Wall as a beacon of hope for East Germans during the Cold War, Desecrated Jewish headstones next to former mortuary, now library, Leszno, Poland, Former Jewish mortuary, now public library, Leszno, Poland - the view is of desecrated Jewish headstones and Soviet-era apartments, Mediateka Library, Wroclaw, Poland, Bullet damaged book, The Ossolineum, Wroclaw, Poland, Legnica Public Library, Legnica, Poland - library in former Masonic Hall, Main Library, Wroclaw, Poland, Library, Nysa, Poland, Library, Soviet-era apartments and Holocaust Memorial, Oswiecim (formally Auschwitz), Poland, Former synagogue, now library and community center, Niebylec, Poland, Pope John Paul II and painting of Jerusalem in former synagogue, now library, Neibylec, Poland, Jewish mural in former synagogue, now library, Neibylec, Poland, Former synagogue, now library, Tarnogrod, Poland, Interior of former synagogue, now library, Tarnogrod, Poland (grid), Staircase-the only remnant left of original Zaluski Library after WWII, Warsaw, Poland, Children's Library in recreated Old Town, Warsaw, Poland, War destroyed book, Naradowa Library, Warsaw, Poland, Librarians in front of Children's Library, Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, Displaced person now teaching technology at New Library, Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, Central Library, Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, Medical Library, Kiev, Ukraine, Archive and librarians, National Library, Kiev, Ukraine, Map librarian, National Library, Kiev, Ukraine, Collection of Jewish Musical Folklore, National Library, Kiev, Ukraine, Art collection, National Library of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine, Librarian and tapestry of former leaders, National Library, Kiev, Ukraine, Old Soviet-era Library + new oligarch built highrises, Kiev, Ukraine, Exterior, Russian State Library for Young Adults (Nosovs Mansion), Moscow, Russia, Floor of the Russian State Library for Young Adults (Nosovs Mansion), Moscow, Russia, Librarian and LPs, Russian State Library for Young Adults (Nosovs Mansion), Moscow, Russia, Chekov Library, Moscow, Russia, Portrait of Anton Chekhov and woman on phone, Chekhov Library, Moscow, Russia, Librarian and special collection books, Nekrasov Library, Moscow, Russia, Archive of calendars, Nekrasov Library, Moscow, Russia, Chocolate and candy wrapper collection, Nekrasov Library, Moscow, Russia (grid), Exterior, The Russian State Library (Lenin Library), Moscow, Russia, Book Museum, The Russian State Library- Lenin Library, Moscow, Russia, Art material and reflection, Russian State Library (Lenin), Moscow, Russia, Guard in Book Museum, The Russian State Library (Lenin Library), Moscow, Russia, Books from archive, Book Museum, Russian State Library (Lenin), Moscow, Russia, Card catalogs, The Russian State Library (Lenin Library), Moscow, Russia, Staircase, Lenin Library, Moscow (triptych), Reading Room, Russian State Library (Lenin), Moscow, Russia (triptych), National Library of Greece (SNFCC), Athens, Director of National Library of Greece, Fillipos Tsimpoglou, and his two assistants, Athens, Greece (triptych), View from National Library of Greece (SNFCC), Athens, Newspaper collection, Old National Library, Athens, Card catalog, Old National Library, Athens, Central Municipal Library of Athens, Public Library, Corfu, Greece, Former British Fort, now Public Library, Corfu, Greece, Corfu Reading Society, Corfu, Greece, Koventarious Municipal Library of Kozani, Kozani, Greece, Manuscripts, Munincipal Library of Kozani, Kozani, Greece, Koventarious Munincipal Library of Kozani, Kozani, Greece, Kalambaka Library, Kalambaka, Greece, Municipal Library Farsalon, Fársala, Greece, Afghan women doing hand work, Greek Forum of Refugees, Athens, Refugee child's drawing of drowning and rescue at sea, Athens, Municipal Library of Kavala, Kavala, Greece, The Derveni Papyri, Archeological Museum of Thessaloniki, Greece, Street book mural, Athens, Greece, Public Historic Library of Andritsena, Greece, Public Historic Library of Andritsena, Greece, Koraes Library, Chios Town, Chios, Greece, Project Elea Library, Eleonas Refugee Camp, Athens, Library designed by Michelangelo, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Florence, Italy, Harold Acton Library, Florence, Italy, Kunsthistoisches Institut in Florenz, Italy, Books destroyed in 1966 flood, National Central Library, Florence, Italy, Book restoration, National Central Library, Florence, Italy, Oldest public library in Europe, Malatestiana Library, Cesena, Italy, Marciana Library, Venice, Italy, Exterior, Marciana Library, Venice, Italy, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Milano, Italy, Nembro Public Library, Nembro Bergamo, Italy, Biblioteca Estense, Modena, Italy, Biblioteca Casanatense, Rome, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Roma, Biblioteca di Archeologia e Storia dell'arte (Ciociera), Rome, Biblioteca Corsiniana at the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Rome, Montecassino abby destroyed during WWII, Cassino, Italy, Library of the Church and Convent of the Girolamini, Naples, Italy, Safari Collection, Biblioteca Nazionale di Napoli, Italy, Papyri Collection, Biblioteca Nazionale di Napoli, Italy, Ancient Roman papyri, Papyri Collection, , Biblioteca Nazionale di Napoli, Naples, Italy, Library built for slain 14 year old daughter killed in mafia gun fire, Annalisa Durante "Open Doors" Library, Naples, Italy, Biblioteca Andreoli, Luzzatti District in the Industrial Zone, Naples, Italy, Library built for another 14 year old girl killed in mafia gun fire, Biblioteca di Scampia "Gelsomina Verde", Naples, Italy, Central Library of the Sicilian Region, Palermo, Sicily, Photographing African refugees, Ideas Box, Libraries Without Borders, Palermo, Sicily, Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, Jerusalem, Israel, Special Collections Librarian, Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, Jerusalem, Israel, Yizkor Books of remembrance, Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, Jerusalem, Israel, View from the roof of the Khalidi Library, Old City, Jerusalem, National Library of Israel, Jerusalem, Pages rescued from Nazi book burning, National Library of Israel, Jerusalem, Jewish book plates, Offenbach Archive, National Library of Israel, Jerusalem (diptych) , Family tomb, Al-Budeiri Family Library, Old City, Jerusalem, Al-Budeiri Family Library, Old City, Jerusalem (triptych), Map of Old City, Al-Budeiri Family Library, Old City, Jerusalem, Israel , Steven Karger Library, Rehovot, Israel, Garden Library for Refugees and Migrant Workers, Tel Aviv, Israel, Tirat Carmel Library, Tirat Carmel, Israel, Abu Salma Public Library, Nazareth, Israel, Interior, Abu Salma Public Library, Nazareth, Israel, Younes and Soraya Nazarian Library, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel, Kinneret College Library, Kinneret, Sea of Galilee, Israel, Ellen in library on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, near Kinneret College, Israel, Men's prayer area, Western Wall, Old City, Jerusalem, Israel, Children's Library, Al-Aqsa Mosque Library, Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque Library, Old City of Jerusalem, Children's Library, Kibbutz of Sideh Boker, Israel, Ecole Biblique et Archeologique Francaise, Jerusalem, Interior, Medical Library, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel, Medical Library, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel, Ben Gurion standing on his head over books, Beer-Sheva, Israel, Dead Sea Scrolls, Israel Museum, Jerusalem (diptych), 1854 map and model of Jerusalem, Franciscan Church Archive, Old City, Jerusalem, Library of the Armenian Patriarch, Old City, Jerusalem, Discovery site of Dead Sea Scrolls, Qumran National Park, Dead Sea, Israel, Tourists, Qumran National Park, Dead Sea, Israel, The Torah Doctor, Jerusalem, Israel, Central Library, East Jerusalem, Exterior, Al-Bireh Public Library, Al-Bireh, Palestine (adjacent to Ramallah), Men in library, Al-Bireh Public Library, Al-Bireh, Palestine (adjacent to Ramallah), Women and computers, Al-Bireh Public Library, Al-Bireh, Palestine (adjacent to Ramallah), Man reading, Al-Bireh Public Library, Al-Bireh, Palestine (adjacent to Ramallah), Prisoners' Section book, Nablus Public Library, Nablus, Palestinian Territories, Nablus Library, Nablus, Palestinian Territories, Model of Central Library, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Central Library, Vancouver, BC, Canada (diptych), Central Library, Vancouver, BC, Exterior, Central Library, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Librarian, Strathcona Branch Library, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Stó:l Research and Resource Management Centre, Chilliwack, BC, Canada, Entrance to Library, Stó-l Research and Resource Management Centre, Chilliwack, BC, Canada, Central Library, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Exterior, Central Library, Calgary, AB, Canada, Staircase and patrons, Central Library, Calgary, AB, Study room, Central Library, Calgary, AB, Canada, Buffalo sculpture and staircase, Central Library, Calgary, AB, "I Read For Ten Hours" signs, Memorial Park Library, Calgary, AB, Brooks Public Library, Brooks, AB, Canada, Swift Current Public Library, Swift Current, SK, Canada, Tree and Library, Moose Jaw, SK, Canada, Native American martyr, Duck Lake Public Library, Duck Lake, SK, Canada, St. John's Branch Library, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, Public Library, in mall, Thunder Bay, ON, Public Library, Blind River, ON, Volunteer and Tackle Share kit, Public Library, Blind River, ON, Canada, Exterior, Toronto Reference Library, Toronto, ON, Canada, Elevator, Toronto Reference Library, Toronto, ON, History Centre, Toronto Reference Library, Toronto, ON, Meeting spaces, Toronto Reference Library, Toronto, ON, Canada, Bloor Gladstone Branch Library, Toronto, ON, Canada, Branch Library, Scarborough, ON, Canada, Perth and District Union Public Library, Perth, ON, The Library of Parliament, Ottawa, ON, Canada, Library Monique-Corriveau, Québec City, QC, Reading area in former church, Library Monique-Corriveau, Québec City, QC, Canada, Former church, Library Claire-Martin, Québec City, QC, Canada, Check out desk, Library Claire-Martin, Québec City, QC, Canada, Public art and photo, Library Claire-Martin, Québec City, QC, Canada, Morrin Centre, Québec City, QC, Canada, Former church, House of Literature Library, Québec, QC, Canada, Former church, Public Library, Asbestos, QC, Canada, Exterior, Library Memphorémagog, Magog, QC, Canada, Interior of former church, Library Memphorémagog, Magog, QC, Canada, International border line through Haskell Free Library and Opera House, Stanstead, Québec, Canada, and Derby Line, Vermont, United States, Interior, Haskell Free Library and Opera House, Stanstead, QC, Canada and Derby Line, VT, USA, Site of former library destroyed in 1921 massacre, Tulsa, OK, Site of early desegregation sit-in, Jackson Public Library, Jackson, MS, Sequoyahs Cabin, Sallisaw, OK - The Cherokee man who built this cabin also invented one of the first written languages for a North American indigenous group, Public Library, Anniston, AL, In 1963, two African Americans asked for library cards here and were viciously beaten by a white mob but managed to escape. The next day they returned and successfully got their cards., Penn Center, Reconstruction Era National Park, St. Helena Island, SC. Near this site was the school built by Northern missionaries during the Civil War to help the newly freed slaves with the long process of gaining literacy and education., National African American Archives, Mobile, AL. Now housed in a formerly segregated Black public library. , Jefferson Davis Presidential Library, Biloxi, MS, Confederate flag, Jefferson Davis Presidential Library, Biloxi, MS, Beaufort-St. Helena Library, St. Helena Island, SC. The library design was inspired by the surrounding Gullah/Geechee people who were liberated from slavery by the Union Army early in the Civil War. , Birmingham Public Library, Birmingham, AL.During the worst of the Civil Rights violence in Birmingham, the public library system quietly desegregated contributing greatly to calming the tension during a very difficult time. , Indian Cemetery, former Carlisle Indian School, now US Army War College, Carlisle, PA, Six headstones, Indian Cemetery, Carlisle, PA, Charlotteville Public Library, Charlotteville, VA, Uvalde tapestry, El Progresso Memorial Library, Uvalde, TX, Magnets gift, El Progresso Memorial Library, Uvalde, TX, Quilt dedicated to 19 children and 2 teachers, El Progresso Memorial Library, Uvalde, TX, Painting of massacred children and teachers made by prisoners, El Progresso Memorial Library, Uvalde, TX, Handmade figurers of three massacred Uvalde children, El Progresso Memorial Library, Uvalde, TX (triptych), Uvalde Memorial Rock Garden, El Progresso Memorial Library, Uvalde, TX, Joe A Guerra Laredo Public Library, Laredo, TX, Postcard collection, Joe A Guerra Laredo Public Library, Laredo, TX, Exterior, Eagle Pass Public Library, Eagle Pass, TX, Banned Books display, Eagle Pass Public Library, Eagle Pass, TX, Books and reflections, Val Verde County Library, Del Rio, TX, Border Radio display, Val Verde County Library, Del Rio, TX, Marfa Public Library, Marfa, TX, Kay Johnson Public Library, Valentine, TX (temporarily closed), Observing Annular Eclipse, Roswell Public Library, Roswell, NM, Entrance, Springfield Public Library, Springfield, OH, Children's Room, Springfield Public Library, Springfield, OH, Sign of sympathy from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Springfield Public Library, Springfield, OH, Main Reading Room, Springfield Public Library, Springfield, OH, Ferguson Public Library, Ferguson, MO, Copper Queen Library, Bisbee, AZ, "No More Stolen Sisters" display, Ferney Heritage Library, Ferney, BC, Canada, Vegreville Centennial Library , Vegreville, AB, Canada, Ukrainian heritage, Vegreville Centennial Library , Vegreville, AB, Canada, Exterior, Stanley A. Milner Main Library, Edmonton, AB, Canada, Stanley A. Milner Main Library, Edmonton, AB, Canada, Strathcona Branch Library, Edmonton, AB, Canada, Abottsfield Penny McKee Branch Library, Edmonton, AB, Canada, Capliano Branch Library, Edmonton, AB, Canada, High Prairie Public Library, High Prairie, AB, Canada, Falher Library, Falher, AB, Canada, High Level Municipal Library, High Level, AB, Canada, Zhahti Koe Public Library, Aurora College, Ft. Providence, NWT, Canada, Melting snow and tipi, Zhahti Koe Public Library, Aurora College, Ft. Providence, NWT, Canada, Assembly Chamber, Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, Yellowknife, NWT, Canada, Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Library, Yellowknife, NWT, Canada, Intern, Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Library, Yellowknife, NWT, Canada, Buffalo, Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Library, Yellowknife, NWT, Canada, Entrance, Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, Yellowknife, NWT, Canada, Yellowknife Public Library, Yellowknife, NWT, Canada, Lillooet Public Library, Lillooet, BC, Canada, Exterior, Whistler Public Library, Whistler, BC, Canada (triptych), Bibliotheque du Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal, Québec, Canada, Bibliotheque Mordecai-Richler, Montreal, QC, Canada (triptych), Campobello Public Library, Welshpool, Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada, St. John Free Public Library, St. John, NB, Canada, "Canada's Smallest Library", Cardigan Library, Cardigan, PEI, Canada, Central Library, Halifax, NS, Canada , Local History, Central Library, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (interior), Central staircase, Central Library, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (interior), Kentville Public Library, Kentville, NS, Canada, Librarian, Meteghan Public Library (Clare), Meteghan, NS, Canada, Pubnico Library branch, Pubnico, NS, Canada, Truro Public Library, Truro, NS, Canada, Bibliothèque Municipale de Chambord, Chambord, QC, Canada, Bibliothèque Municipale, L'Ascension-de-Norte Seigneur, , OC, Canada, Bibliothèque Hélène-Pedneault de Jouquiére, Saguenay, OC, Canada, Exterior, Bibliotèque Laure-Conan, Malbaie, QC, Canada, Bibliothèque Félix-Leclerc, Quebec City, QC, Canada (diptych), Pauline Johnson Library, Lundar, MB, Canada, Eriksdale Public Library, Eriksdale, MB, Canada, The Pas Regional Library, The Pas, MB, Canada, Flin Flon Public Library, Flin Flon, MB, Canada, Miner's lunch pail, Flin Flon Public Library, Flin Flon, MB, Canada, Choiceland Public Library, Choiceland, MB, Canada, Saskatoon Public Library (Central Library), Saskatoon, SK, Canada, Find It sign, Saskatoon Public Library, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, Law Society of Saskatchewan Library, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, Eatonia Branch Library, Eatonia, SK, Canada, Drummondville Central Library, Drummondville, QC, Canada, Exterior, Bibliothèque Livres-en-train, Tring-Jonction, QC, Canada, Bibliothèque Livres-en-train, Tring-Jonction, QC, Canada, Bibliothèque Gabrielle-Roy, Québec City, QC, Canada, Bibliothèque Municipale, Saint-Georges, QC, Canada, Director of National Library of Anthropology and History, Mexico City, Mexico, Hallway, National Library of Anthropology and History, Mexico City, Mexico, Biblioteca Miguel Lerdo de Tejada, Mexico City, Mexico, Jose Luis Martinez Library, City of Books, Mexico City, Mexico, Vaconcelos Library, Mexico City, Mexico, Library of the Congress of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico, Pyramid of ancient books, National Library of Mexico (Fondo Reservado), Mexico City, Mexico, CHEM - Centro Esteria de Mexico - Carlos Slim collection, Mexico City, Mexico, Burgoa Library, Oaxaca, Mexico, Biblioteca Investigacion Juan de Córdova, Oaxaca, Mexico, Biblioteca Lafragua, Puebla, Mexico, Biblioteca Palafoxiana, Puebla, Mexico, Avión Biblioteca, Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico, UNAM Central Library, Mexico City, Mexico, Painting and sculpture, Biblioteca Publica de Universidad Michoacana, Morelia, Mexico, The Gertrudis Bocanegra Public Library, Pátzcuro, Mexico, Exterior, Biblioteca Octavio Paz, Guadalajara, Mexico, Biblioteca Octavio Paz, Guadalajara, Mexico, Interior, Juan José Arreola Library, Guadalajara, Mexico, Juan José Arreola Library, Guadalajara, Mexico, Armando Oliveras Library, Guanajuato, Mexico, Mural in bookstore, Public Library of San Miguel de Allende, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Biblioteca Publica Municipal Ignacio Ramirez "El Nigromonte", San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Children's Library Wagon, Biblioteca Pública Municipal "Gildardo Raugel Audrade", Querétaro, Mexico, Mapoteca, Mexico City, Mexico, Manuel Cepeda Peraza State Central Library, Mérida, Mexico, Campeche Public Library, Campeche, Mexico, Prof. Manuel Couoh Paredes Municipal Public Library, Tixkokob, Mexico, Corozal Public Library, Corozal Town, Belize, Library built on border to counter poverty and cartel activities, Agua Preita Library, Agua Preita, Mexico, Mural and border wall, Agua Preita Library, Agua Preita, Mexico, Border wall and Agua Preita Library, Agua Preita, Mexico.