“Public libraries in the United States started to proliferate in the late 1800s and early 1900s, often founded by women’s clubs and other social groups seeking to benefit their communities. Their early focus was on classic literature, which was thought to improve and transform the reader. However, thanks in part to librarianship during the [1918] pandemic, a shift occurred after World War I towards ‘useful information’, … [which] made libraries partners in many public awareness campaigns, from public health to nuclear safety, in the coming decades.” – JSTOR Daily
