Postcard, "Public Library, 5th Avenue and 42nd Street, New York City," 1933

Until the 20th century, most book collections were not available to everyday Americans. They were either privately owned, accessible only by paid subscription, or stored away haphazardly. Free public libraries gained traction in the early 1900s. Library buildings remained sources of civic pride even in large cities like New York, where more imposing buildings might dwarf the structures.