Early public library patrons were aspirational and sought self-improvement

Evidence

In the first century of the public library, from the 1880s onwards, this was very different. Those who entered the library did share one vital characteristic, in that they were by and large aspirational: the library was an instrument of social or personal improvement. — Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile History, 942

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile History, 942
• XREF: connects to: The public library was conceived as a moral reform instrument from its earliest plans — Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile History, 432

Broader Connections

• The public library was conceived as a moral reform instrument from its earliest plans #corroborates (0.75) — Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile History, 432