Circulating libraries in the industrial England: librarianship practices and their role as a new environment of information distribution and circulation

Abstract

It deals with the circulating libraries and their role as a new environment of distribution and circulation of information in the British Industrial Revolution. It analyzes its origins, development and library practices in the context of the new configuration of the book economy, provided by the mechanization of the press. Specifically, it considers the participation and contribution of the circulating libraries, understood as book rental establishments, for later developments in the Librarianship field, as well as the inclusion of women in the production chain of the book. According to a qualitative approach, the bibliographical research was adopted, guided by the contributions of the textual bibliography. It was inferred that these libraries were essential in stimulating taste and providing access to books and reading to women who had previously been practically outside the circle of interest in the production and transmission of information and knowledge. It concludes that these establishments are understood as previous models of many practices adopted in the libraries to the present day.