Pioneer of Public Library: Karl Preusker

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  • 公共図書館のパイオニア
  • 公共図書館のパイオニア--カール・プロイスカーの時代と思想
  • コウキョウ トショカン ノ パイオニア カール プロイスカー ノ ジダイ ト
  • カール・プロイスカーの時代と思想

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In his young years Karl Preusker (1786-1871) worked at two book sellers. He was influenced by the liberal attitude of the enlightened shopkeeper. He was also impressed deeply by the books on popular education by Heinrich Stephani (German) and Henry Brougham (Englishman), and established the Grossenhain School Library in 1828, which was named City Library in 1833. The objectives of the library were: general and vocational education for the working adults and young people. <br> As in the 17th century the enlightenment inspired the self education of the people, Preusker intended to develop the education of the home industry workers and merchants. At this stage of the history of capitalism, however, these people were threatened to fall down to the proletarian workers, and in 1844 a violent uprising of these people broke out in Sachsen. The enlightenment had lost its initial nature, it meant rather the education of the lower class by the upper ruling class to maintain the present social system. The popular education by Preusker contributed much to the development of society in the same direction. Moreover the concept of “Humanitat” of Johann G. von Herder lead Preusker to the humanistic way of thinking of the Historicism, one of the reaction against the rationalistic enlightenment. His first public library, which was encouraged by the royal governments of Sachsen and Preussen, may be called the typical product of the reactionary years of German Restauration.

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