Librarians seized upon video technology in the mid-twentieth century to promote their services and instruct their patrons, and librarians today continue that tradition through the production of creative web videos and virtual tours.
This section lists early films produced by various libraries and their allies. Please email us suggestions for additional films.
Enjoy the show!
Historic Videos
One of the most influential–and controversial–films in library history. ALA produced this film to stimulate discussion about intellectual freedom. Recently, the ALA Archives at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign digitized the film for the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom and made it viewable through YouTube. For commentary about the film’s historical impact, please see this ALA site.
Dewey Decimal System: “Library Organization” 1951 Coronet Instructional Films
This is a delightful film for students about using the library effectively.
Your Library Work Series: The Librarian (1947)
Fabulous primary source from the Prelinger Archives within the Internet Archive. A recruitment and occupational film by Dr. Arthur P. Twogood, a professor at Iowa State College!
We’ve heard of bookmobiles but have you heard of the Edmonton Street Car Railway library? Take a look. Paramount Pictures produced this film.
Rockingham County Library Book Truck Visits School (1939)
Priceless silent film of librarians hard at work delivering books and learning to a school. You’ll love the “library dog” too!
Take a trip down memory lane with Miss Huron, the Huron County Library Bookmobile.
The University Library: Instructional film on how to use the library at U.C. Berkeley (1945)
Librarians use video tutorials today to introduce patrons to their facilities and services–check out this early example from Berkeley. The tips about using the card catalogs are neat.
Take a tour of the Library of Congress in 1968. The LOC activities were shown to benefit Americans everywhere.
The Library: a family affair (1950s)
“Meet the Greens, a typical 1950s Brooklyn family that LOVES their library! Produced by the Brooklyn Public Library in collaboration with the Curriculum Division of the Board of Education, N.Y.C., this film details the myriad of services offered by the library and the then-cutting-edge technology used by staff and patrons. A must-see for Brooklynites and library fans!”
The Library Story / presented by Friends of the Santa Rosa Public Library (c. 1960)
“Presents the case for building a new public library in Santa Rosa, Calif., the city designed for living.”
Encyclopedia Britannica created this Hollywood-style promotional/educational film about libraries. It is loaded with meaning and covers most major aspects of public libraries of the day. It shows how each library service benefits the community. The music is pleasant too!
The Library – A Place for Discovery
Beautifully-done film about a girl who learns to use many library tools to create a puppet show about Paul Bunyan for her school project!
Animations
The Rise and Fall of the Great Library of Alexandria: An Animated Introduction
A well-designed TED-Ed animated video of the history of the Library of Alexandria created by Elizabeth Cox. Accompanied by an article from Josh Jones at Open Culture.
