"Mr. Robinson's theory of "Give 'em what they want" revolutionized the library world by focusing on popular titles that customers desired to read. His leadership at Baltimore County Public Library from 1963 to 1996 was instrumental in moving the library service to the forefront of public service in the nation. He is recognized as one of the most influential librarians of the 20th century, and his innovative approach to library management has left a lasting impact on the field."
–-Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library. April 10, 2016.
Charles W. Robinson began his professional library career at the Free Library of Philadelphia as the administrative assistant to Emerson Greenaway.
He joined the staff at Baltimore County Public Library (BCPL) as assistant county librarian in 1959; and was named director by the Board of Library Trustees in 1963. Thus began a 33-year era of innovative, progressive and inspired leadership that moved Baltimore County Public Library to the forefront of public library service in the nation. He oversaw the openings of nine branches, as well as several mini libraries. Mr. Robinson forever changed the library world with his revolutionary (and controversial at the time) theory of "Give 'em what they want," focusing on more popular titles that customers wanted to read. He is considered one of the most influential librarians of the 20th century.
Charlie forever changed the library world with his revolutionary theory of "Give 'Em What They Want" focusing on the popular materials that customers want and customer-centered library service.
He shared his way of thinking with his staff, growing a generation of library leaders, he was then encouraging as they left to share his vision as library administrators all over the country.
He served as:
- · President of the Public Library Association (PLA)
- · Council of American Library Association,
- He received the Maryland Library Association Outstanding Member Award and was awarded honorary membership in the Maryland Library Association.
Charlie had a major role in the development of several American Library Association/Public Library Association publications considered vital to the management of public libraries.
- · Output Measures for Public Libraries
- · Planning and Role Setting for Public Libraries
- · The Public Library Data Service Statistical Report.
Upon his retirement the Public Library Association, with funding from the Baker & Taylor Company, Inc., established the Charlie Robinson Award given annually to an outstanding practitioner in the library field who has demonstrated innovative and responsive leadership resulting in the improvement of public library service.
Read the entire tribute here.
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In honor of the Sesquicentennial (150th Anniversary of ALA) in 2026, the https://www.ala.org/lhrt. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="NotApplicable" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ala.org%2Flhrt&data=05%7C02%7Ckmccook%40usf.edu%7C222bb40ed80f4a10647908de82f52897%7C741bf7dee2e546df8d6782607df9deaa%7C0%7C0%7C639092186796903224%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=SbNLOIrHV8YD3TIR8Mpip5mJMTRVsLsY49DlUKpY6F0%3D&reserved=0" data-ogsc="" data-linkindex="9">Library History Round Table is hosting Librarians We Have Lost, Sesquicentennial Memories -1976-2026. This collage of tributes seeks to honor librarians who died between 1976-2026. The tributes are published to ALA Connect, a https://lhrt.news/librarians-we-have-lost-sesquicentennial-memories-1976-2026/. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="NotApplicable" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flhrt.news%2Flibrarians-we-have-lost-sesquicentennial-memories-1976-2026%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ckmccook%40usf.edu%7C222bb40ed80f4a10647908de82f52897%7C741bf7dee2e546df8d6782607df9deaa%7C0%7C0%7C639092186796920735%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=VQDExg93eMTtTQPaPbzX7RKX8JJSq1dvIIqoTyQBlHE%3D&reserved=0" data-ogsc="" data-linkindex="10">digital memorial on LHRT News & Notes, and https://alair.ala.org/collections/1ea0f128-01ca-4ed8-a1ea-4f78734f7cad/search. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="NotApplicable" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Falair.ala.org%2Fcollections%2F1ea0f128-01ca-4ed8-a1ea-4f78734f7cad%2Fsearch&data=05%7C02%7Ckmccook%40usf.edu%7C222bb40ed80f4a10647908de82f52897%7C741bf7dee2e546df8d6782607df9deaa%7C0%7C0%7C639092186796938091%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=iZotw8hF9HQw4CzZYnft6Cp8V%2FzKWyHxnEcnZ8zToXk%3D&reserved=0" data-ogsc="" data-linkindex="11">ALA's institutional repository (ALAIR).
We invite tributes from anyone about any library worker who passed away between 1976-2026. To submit a tribute, please use the form at https://lhrt.news/librarians-we-have-lost-sesquicentennial-memories-1976-2026-2/. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="NotApplicable" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flhrt.news%2Flibrarians-we-have-lost-sesquicentennial-memories-1976-2026-2%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ckmccook%40usf.edu%7C222bb40ed80f4a10647908de82f52897%7C741bf7dee2e546df8d6782607df9deaa%7C0%7C0%7C639092186796955763%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=eqgZtE7ueSkX2jXS2X7h46AlYKPBUqiRHfAfxnoh3Ck%3D&reserved=0" data-ogsc="" data-linkindex="12">lhrt.news/...
For questions or comments, please reach out to Brett Spencer (dbs21@psu.edu) or Kathleen McCook (kmccook@usf.edu)
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Kathleen de la Peña McCook
Distinguished University Professor
School of Information
University of South Florida
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