Titre du document / Document title

Beer and books : Michael Thomas Bass, Derby Public Library, and the philanthropy of the beerage

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

STURGES P. ⁽¹⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Dept. of Information and Library Studies, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, ROYAUME-UNI

Résumé / Abstract

The conflict between the attractions of the public library and the public house has long been a stock theme in British library history. Support for public libraries was associated with the temperance movement, the promotion of rational leisure, liberal or radical politics, and nonconformist religion. In contrast, the public house was usually associated with rowdy and degrading use of leisure and with conservative politics or political apathy. In particular, the public house was seen as an expression of the financial power of the brewing industry, which had at its apex members of Parliament and the immensely rich and influential holders of titles of nobility, often known as the beerage. The case of Derby Public Library tests generalizations about this 'conflict,' as its building, opened in 1879, was donated by Michael Thomas Bass, the local M.P. and the head of one of the most famous brewing families. Bass's rationale for this seemingly unlikely donation, when set in the context of his own political career and the philanthropy of the beerage as a whole, appears much closer to the general trend of brewers' social and political commitment than the popular image might suggest. Many brewers were by choice liberal in politics, and all were surprisingly unemphatic in their pursuit of partisan advantage through the political forum. They gave to a wide range of charitable causes and were more concerned with their self-image as generous givers than with the direct exploitation of charitable donation.

Revue / Journal Title

Libraries & culture   ISSN 0894-8631 

Source / Source

Congrès
Library History Seminar N^o9, Tuscaloosa, Alabama , ETATS-UNIS (30/03/1995)
1996, vol. 31, n^o 2 (248 p.)  (bibl.: dissem.), pp. 247-271

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

University of Texas Press, Austin, TX, ETATS-UNIS  (1988-2006) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Public library ; Library activity ; Case history ; Construction ; Use ; Social class ; Comparative study ; Great Britain ; Case study ; Reading ; Donation ; Philanthropy ; United Kingdom ; Europe ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Bibliothèque publique ; Activité bibliothèque ; Historique ; Construction ; Utilisation ; Classe sociale ; Etude comparative ; Grande Bretagne ; Etude cas ; Lecture ; Donation ; Philanthropie ; Royaume Uni ; Europe ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Biblioteca pública ; Actividad biblioteca ; Histórica ; Construcción ; Utilización ; Clase social ; Estudio comparativo ; Gran Bretaña ; Estudio caso ; Lectura ; Reino Unido ; Europa ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 20634, 35400006006697.0010