通过对美国私有图书馆的早期(20世纪初以前)历史,它们的存在状况、规模、藏书内容以及重要收藏家的介绍与评价,呈现给读者一个比较清晰的美国私有图书馆发展历史的轮廓;通过对美国私有图书馆的运作方式、经营管理的讨论,得出美国私有图书馆向公立图书馆转变过程中的三点有益启示。 Through the history of American private libraries in the early (before the beginning of the 20th century), their existence, scale, contents of collections, and the introduction and evaluation of important collectors, this article presents readers with a clearer outline of the development history of American private libraries. Through the discussion of the operation mode and operation management of American private libraries, it draws three useful enlightenments in the process of American private libraries’ transition to public libraries.