Carl B. Roden

Carl Bismarck Roden (June 7, 1871 – October 25, 1956)[1] was an American librarian and served as chief librarian of the Chicago Public Library from 1918 to 1950. A lifelong resident of Norwood Park, Illinois he began work as a library page in 1886.[2][3]

Carl B. Roden
Roden in 1917
President of the American Library Association
In office
1927–1928
Preceded byGeorge H. Locke
Succeeded byLinda A. Eastman
Personal details
Born
Carl Bismarck Roden

(1871-06-07)June 7, 1871
Kansas City, Missouri, USA
DiedOctober 25, 1956(1956-10-25) (aged 85)
Palatine, Illinois, USA
NationalityAmerican
OccupationLibrarian

Under his leadership, the Chicago Public Library system doubled its reach in the community and tripled the number of books they offered. Circulation from branch libraries doubled and the community support for the Public Libraries increased four-fold.[4] During his tenure, Chicago Public Library's Board of Directors authorized the first intellectual freedom policy in an American public Library. The April 1936 action responded to challenges from community members of Russian and Polish descent regarding the collections provided by the Chicago Public Library's Foreign Language Department.[5]

Roden served as the President of the American Library Association from 1927 to 1928.[6]

Bibliography
  • “Standards for the Public Library Book Collection,” in The Library of Tomorrow: A Symposium, ed. Emily M. Danton (Chicago: American Library Association, 1939), 94.
  • “The Library as a Censor of Books,” in Proceedings of the Illinois Library Association, October 19–21 (Springfield: Illinois Library Association, 1922), 167.

See also

References
  1. The American Public Library Handbook
  2. "About the Roden Branch". Chicago Public Library. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  3. "Former Chicago Librarian Dies". Mt. Vernon Register-News. Mt. Vernon, IL: Newspapers.com. October 26, 1956. p. 11.
  4. "CPL History". Chicago Public Library. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  5. Latham, Joyce M. (2009). "Wheat and Chaff: Carl Roden, Abe Korman, and the Definitions of Intellectual Freedom in the Chicago Public Library" (PDF). Libraries & the Cultural Record. 44 (3): 279–298. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  6. "ALA's Past Presidents". American Library Association. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by
George H. Locke		 President of the American Library Association
1927–1928		 Succeeded by
Linda A. Eastman


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