One of its aims, he says, was “to encourage people to regard television not as an enemy of the book, but as an ally of the book.” He would like to see the titles of relevant books given more often at the end of television programs.īoorstin has yet another book coming out Oct. At Boorstin’s suggestion, a Center for the Book was established by Congress. He is proud of the books published by the library during his tenure, including “Treasures of the Library of Congress” by Charles Goodrun. “I thought that was a very unwelcoming gesture, and that we should take our chances.” That was a symbol to remind people that we were there as the nation’s library, the world’s library.”īoorstin also stopped the practice of searching people for bombs as they came in. “When I asked why they were kept closed, they said: ‘Why, if we open them, that will cause a draft.’ And I said, ‘Well, that’s exactly what we want to do.’ So we did open those doors.

There are some large, heavy bronze doors in the entrance. Some of his first acts were largely symbolic. His role, he felt, was to give direction. Second, because the library was founded in 1800, had had some good organizers and still has a good staff, he found organization already in healthy momentum.

The latter, he says, will “do for the arts what ‘The Discoverers’ did for the sciences” and will cover architecture, painting, sculpting, writing, music and dance-”not battles and treaties, but mankind’s fulfillment of itself.”Īs a creator of books, did Boorstin find the librarian’s task of marshaling other people’s books and making them more accessible to be uncreative, frustrating drudge work? Not at all.įor a start he loved being surrounded by books. He won the Pulitzer Prize for history in 1973 for “The Americans: The Democratic Experience.” Now he is beginning “The Creators,” a companion piece to “The Discoverers.” “The Discoverers” joined a long list of works that had left Boorstin garlanded with literary prizes and honorary doctorates. He researched at home with books that he was allowed to borrow from the Library of Congress as a staff privilege.

Boorstin emphasizes that he got up early every morning and that he worked weekends in the four-story Washington house he shares with his wife, Ruth.

Daniel boorstin the discoverers