The influential advocate for educational reforms in public libraries is Melvil Dewey. Known for creating the Dewey Decimal System, his work revolutionized the way libraries categorize and access materials, making information more accessible to the public. Dewey was also a proponent of lifelong learning and believed that libraries should facilitate ongoing education for all individuals. His reforms emphasized the importance of libraries as democratic institutions that promote literacy and knowledge, significantly shaping the landscape of education.