Hard Choices in Hard Times Lessons from the Great Depression.

The article examines the response of the Chicago Public Library to the financial challenges faced during the Great Depression in the U.S. during the 1930s. The effects of increased unemployment on library use, demands on library hours, and library staffing are discussed and the effect of budget cuts on library priorities is explored. The impact of reduced book budgets on circulation, appeals to the public for financial support, and dependence on state aid are also discussed. Comparisons between the effect of the Depression and the global financial crisis of 2008-2009 on U.S. public libraries are explored.