美国建国不久诞生了州立图书馆。当时建立图书馆的目的在于为公务人员和州议会议员们所利用,不过也不仅仅限于这一目的。如1818年4月21日纽约州通过的法律宣言曾提到;作为“公共图书馆”所组织起来的州立图书馆,是为“州政府和本州居民服务用”的图书馆。但这个法律又规定,不论任何目的,不得从图书馆带出图书,因此图书馆的利用只限于供参考、查阅等。 The United States was founded shortly after the founding of the state library. The purpose of establishing a library at that time was to be used by civil servants and state legislatures, but not only for that purpose. As mentioned in the legal declaration passed by New York State on April 21, 1818, the state library, organized as a “public library,” is a library for “state and state residents.” However, the law also stipulates that no library shall be taken out of the library for any purpose. Therefore, the use of the library is limited to for reference and inspection.