A Photographic Journey of American Libraries

(Above: Library Built By Ex-Slaves. Recreation: Mary Dickerson Memorial Library, Allensworth, CA)

Photographer Robert Dawson documents the long-standing structure that has served and sparked the imagination of children and adults alike for ages, the public library. For almost 20 years, he has captured libraries from the quaint to the grand in nearly all 50 states and just like their patrons, they are as diverse as they come. Some libraries are architecturally impressive such as the contemporary Central Library in Seattle while others operate on a much smaller scale like the dollhouse-size The Little Free Library. “Because they’re all locally funded, libraries reflect the communities they’re in,” Dawson said in an interview. “The diversity reflects who we are as a people.” Check out Dawson’s photographic journey on his new book released earlier this year: The Public Library: A Photographic Essay.

African American Museum Library – Oakland, CA

Mockingbird Branch Library – Abilene, TX

Central Library – Seattle, WA

George Washington Carver Branch – Austin, TX

Built 1932, now closed – Roscoe, SD

Queens Bookmobile – Rockaway, NJ

Redwoods Mill Public Library – Mill Valley, CA

Death Valley National Park, CA

Shepherdstown, WV

Smallest Library, now closed – Hartland Four Corners, VT

Springdale Branch Library – Springdale, Utah

Todd Boi – Litte Free Library

Storrs Library – Longmeadow, MA

Willard Library – Evansville, IN

Yarborough Branch Library – Austin, TX