This book is a history of the origins of libraries in the ancient world, and their development into the modern era. The author, Ernest Cushing Richardson, explores the social, cultural, and intellectual contexts in which libraries emerged, and offers insights into the role of libraries in the dissemination of knowledge and ideas. The book is a valuable resource for librarians, scholars, and anyone interested in the history of libraries and their impact on society. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Excerpt from The Beginnings of Libraries A considerable mass of memoranda on the early history of libraries has been gathered by the author of this essay during the last twenty-five years, and out of this material various essays have been published from time to time on Antediluvian Libraries, Medieval Libraries, Some Old Egyptian Librarians, etc. The fact that the unworked mass of modern information through excavations is so great as to put off for a long time still a systematic treatise, has led to the plan of publishing these essays and addresses from time to time as completed and in uniform style. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Translated, with supplementary material by Renben Peiss.

"The Beginnings of Libraries" by Ernest Cushing Richardson is a scholarly exploration of the origins and evolution of libraries throughout history. Richardson's expertise in library science and history is evident as he traces the development of libraries from ancient civilizations to the modern age. This book is an essential read for those interested in the rich history of libraries and their enduring significance as repositories of knowledge and culture.

This edition of the History of Libraries in the Western World represents a substantial revision of the earlier edition, taking into account the information revolution that has swept the West since 1945 and the political revolution that swept across Europe beginning in 1986.

Throughout the history of the world, libraries have been constructed, burned, discovered, raided, and cherished—and the treasures they've housed have evolved from early stone tablets to the mass-produced, bound paper books of our present day. The Library invites you to enter the libraries of ancient Greece, early China, Renaissance England, and modern-day America, and speaks to the book lover in all of us. Incorporating beautiful illustrations, insightful quotations, and many marvelous mysteries of libraries—their books, patrons, and keepers—this book is certain to provide you with a wealth of knowledge and enjoyment.