Sputnik I was the first artificial earth satellite ever launched. This event served notice that the United States had fallen behind the Soviet Union in scientific progress. It stimulated a major effort to improve the teaching of science and to gain greater support for scientific research. It also led to the improvement of science collections in all types of libraries. |
Robert Wedgeworth is the University Librarian and Professor of Library Administration at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. His choices for the most important events of the 1900's reflect a general approach. See why a British rock band and an American baseball player made it onto his list. |