Keys To The Whole World: American Public Libraries

Keys To The Whole World: American Public Libraries This summer, NPR explores our nation's public library system, investigating questions about funding, architecture, media consumption, copyright, and of course, community.

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Keys To The Whole World: American Public Libraries This summer, NPR explores our nation's public library system, investigating questions about funding, architecture, media consumption, copyright, and of course, community.

Rachel Reynolds Luster became the Myrtle, Mo., librarian four months ago. The town rests in the rural Ozarks, about 5 miles north of the Arkansas state line. The nearest major bookstore is two hours away. Jennifer Davidson/KSMU hide caption

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Turning A Page Inside A Rural One-Room Library

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C., has opened a Digital Commons that features rows of desktop computers, portable electronic devices and even a 3D printer. DC Public Library/The Freelon Group hide caption

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With Modern Makeovers, America's Libraries Are Branching Out

The San Francisco Public Library has been digitizing its historical document collections for years, including the scrapbooks of famed homicide detective Theodore Kytka. The SFPL is among scores of libraries and archives adding their digital collections to the DPLA. Via San Francisco Public Library hide caption

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Combining The Nation's Digitized Libraries, All In One Place

The Tyson Library in Ludlow, Vt., is required to support itself independently; public libraries in Vermont receive no state funding. Neda Ulaby/NPR hide caption

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For You To Borrow, Some Libraries Have To Go Begging

Beyond Books: Libraries Lend Fishing Poles, Pans And People

Volunteers at the Queens Library in the Far Rockaway section of Queens hand out coats to people affected by Hurricane Sandy. AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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For Disaster Preparedness: Pack A Library Card?

If a LEGO lion can take pride of place at the New York Public Library, why not video games in the reading rooms? The NYPLarcade program is a kind of book club for gamers, inviting participants to dive deep with discussions of strategy, game structure and more. Bebeto Matthews/AP hide caption

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At Libraries Across America, It's Game On

Poor Donna Reed: Her Mary would have ended up working in a library — shudder — if not for the matrimonial intervention of Jimmy Stewart's George Bailey. Happily, 1946's It's a Wonderful Life isn't the only lens through which pop culture assesses the worth of the institution and those who make it tick. RKO Pictures/Getty Images hide caption

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Libraries' Leading Roles: On Stage, On Screen And In Song

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E-Books Strain Relations Between Libraries, Publishing Houses

Carnegie ultimately gave away $60 million to fund a system of 1,689 public libraries across the country. "In bestowing charity the main consideration should be to help those who help themselves," he wrote. AFP/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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How Andrew Carnegie Turned His Fortune Into A Library Legacy

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