The New Woman as Librarian

"At the time of her death in 1953, it seemed that Adelaide Hasse would simply pass from memory and be forgotten. Yet by the turn of the century, American Libraries named her one of its 100 library leaders of the twentieth century, one of only 30 women so recognized. Thus, the unsinkable Adelaide Hasse has risen to the status of a giant in the profession, often considered the patron saint of documents librarians. In 1985 the Government Printing Office even named a room in her honor." "Although much of her career has remained obscure, Hasse left records to provide a more balanced understanding of her life and work. In addition to the extensive print record in periodicals and The Compensations of Librarianship, there were the long-submerged records in the New York Public Library Archives, Library of Congress, National Archives, and files of the FBI, as well as the papers of various contemporaries." "Hasse spoke and wrote about issues that are as relevant today as they were a century ago: How should librarians be recruited and educated? What is the nature of their professional expertise? How do libraries function as organizations? What services do they provide? How do they provide access to government information? What are the dynamics of a feminized profession? The New Woman as Librarian: The Career of Adelaide Hasse brings to light Hasse's achievements and examines the impact of her work, values, and experiences in a gendered system."--Jacket.