"A Book Never Dies": The American Library Association and the Cultural Reconstruction of Czechoslovak and Polish Libraries, 1945–1948. (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sroka, Marek
• Is Part Of: Library & information history. Volume 33:Number 1(2017)
• Page Start: 19
• Page End: 34
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: American Library Association -- Czechoslovakia -- Poland -- reconstruction -- war losses -- libraries -- American Book Center; Libraries -- History -- Periodicals; Library science -- History -- Periodicals; Documentation -- History -- Periodicals; 020.9005
• DOI: 10.1080/17583489.2017.1264186
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1758-3489

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The American Library Association (ALA)'s role in the postwar cultural reconstruction of East Central European countries such as Czechoslovakia and Poland has not been widely studied. The paper contributes to a better understanding of American cultural influence in that part of Europe by examining the ALA's efforts of sharing the works of American culture and science with war-devastated libraries in the context of war losses suffered by Czechoslovak and Polish libraries and a rising tide of totalitarianism in Eastern Europe. Particular attention is given to individual requests for books and periodicals as they offer a firsthand account of the war devastation and an insight into various needs of Czechoslovak and Polish libraries in early postwar years.