Elements of democracy

To the editor:

Democracy is a topic of much discussion in our daily conversations, one result of our political turmoil. Withmanyamong us sharing thoughts on the importance of and elements of democracy, it’s fitting for the Smithsonian (April/May 2024) to reveal the connection of and importance of the library to colonial education and ultimately to the support and understanding of democracy.

Access to books enabled the opportunity for knowledge among the colonial population. As more people became more educated, conversations around Democratic principles involved a greater diversity of the population. Our founding fathers understood the relationship of education to the understanding of and support of democracy.