John Cotton Dana
John Cotton Dana Born (1856-08-19)August 19, 1856 Woodstock, Vermont Died July 21, 1929(1929-07-21) (aged 72) Newark, New Jersey Nationality American Occupation Librarian John Cotton Dana (b. August 19, 1856 in Woodstock, Vermont — d. July 21, 1929 in Newark, New Jersey) was an American library and museum director who sought to make these cultural institutions relevant to the daily lives of citizens. As a public librarian for forty years Dana promoted the benefits of reading, pioneered direct access to shelved materials, and innovated specialized library services of all types.