Castagna, Edwin, 1909-

Director of the Enoch Pratt Free Library (1960-1974); d. 1983.

From the description of Oral history interview, 1973. (Maryland Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 32819155

Born in Petaluma, California, in 1909, Edwin Castagna graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, Library School and directed libraries in Reno, Nevada; and Ukiah, Glendale, and Long Beach in California. As director of the Enoch Pratt Library in 1960-1977, Castagna began a Baltimore inner-city outreach program, took over the Peabody Library, and made Pratt the state library resource center. He was known as a staunch defender of the right to read as fundamental to human liberty.

Castagna was president of the Nevada and California Library Associations. He served as president of ALA in 1964-1965 and chaired the Committee on Legislation in 1966-1968. He died November 26, 1983, in Baltimore.

From the description of Edwin Castagna Collection, 1909-1983. (California State Library). WorldCat record id: 58745827

Biography

Born in Petaluma, California, in 1909, Edwin Castagna graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, Library School and directed libraries in Reno, Nevada; and Ukiah, Glendale, and Long Beach in California. As director of the Enoch Pratt Library in 1960-1977, Castagna began a Baltimore inner-city outreach program, took over the Peabody Library, and made Pratt the state library resource center. He was known as a staunch defender of the right to read as fundamental to human liberty.

Castagna was president of the Nevada and California library associations. He served as president of the American Library Association in 1964-1965 and chaired its Committee on Legislation in 1966-1968.

He died November 26, 1983, in Baltimore.

From the guide to the Edwin Castagna Collection, 1909-1982, (California State Library)