John Cotton Dana (1856-1929) was a highly influential American librarian and museum director who did much of his work in Newark, New Jersey. He wanted to bring libraries into the 20th century by making them vibrant community centers instead of collections of relics that only appealed to a small segment of the community. 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1929 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Librarian, a 1556 painting by Giuseppe Arcimboldo A librarian is a person who develops procedures for organizing information and provides services that assist and instruct people in the most efficient ways to identify and access any needed information or information resource (article, book, magazine, etc. ... A museum is typically a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and of its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits, for purposes of study, education enjoyment, the tangible and intangible evidence of people and their environment. ... Newark (), nicknamed The Brick City, is the largest city in New Jersey and the county seat of urban Essex County. ...

He was Director of the Denver Public Library from 1889 to 1898. While there, he pioneered the patron's right to open stacks, allowing them to browse for themselves instead of having a librarian monitoring their every request. Denver skyline, 1999. ... 1889 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1898 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Some libraries have additional galleries, beyond the public ones, where reference materials are stored, but which patrons can still get access to. ...

While in Denver, he also organized the first-ever children's library room. He was personally opposed to the concept of storytime, preferring for his children's library to focus on the continuing education of school teachers.

He became head of the Newark Public Library in 1902 and directed it until his death. He established foreign language collections for immigrants and also developed a special collection for the business community. This "Business Branch" was the first of its kind in the nation. 1902 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Immigration is the act of moving to or settling in another country or region, temporarily or permanently. ...

He also founded the Newark Museum in 1909, directing it until his death. Dana personally did not like modern art, but he believed in the principle of a universal museum and thus ordered purchases of art associated with the Ashcan School. Cotton also began the Newark Museum's notable Tibetan collection. Main Building of the Newark Museum The Newark Museum is the largest museum in New Jersey. ... 1909 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The Ash Can School was remembered on the USPS stamp. ...

Dana served as president of the American Library Association, which today gives out the John Cotton Dana Public Relations Award to libraries with exceptional public relations. Dana is a member of the Library Hall of Fame. The American Library Association promotes libraries and library education in the United States and internationally. ... The Library Hall of Fame is a list of 40 leaders of the modern library movement. ...

John Cotton Dana married, but his wife was not healthy. He did not have any children.

Rutgers-Newark's main library is named for John Cotton Dana.

Bibliography

• A Library Primer, 1899
• The New Museum, 1917