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3000 BCE
Clay Tablets!
Libraries date back to as early as 3,000 BCE (before common era). Information was inscribed on wet clay tablets then stored in the first "library." The records contained were mostly of economic and administrative purposes. -
Period: 3000 BCE to
History of Libraries
From clay tablets to the modern book, reading materials and libraries have come a long way. -
300 BCE
The Great Library of Alexandria!
The Great Library of Alexandria, founded in 300 BCE. was a public library open to those with literary qualifications. Passengers arriving in Alexandria had their book confiscated if there weren't already copies of that book in the library. At one time, the library had 750,000 scrolls. The Great Library, even after its destruction, was hailed for its collection on knowledge. The Great Library of Alexandria became a model for other libraries after it. -
814
The Catholic Church!
During Medieval times, libraries almost died out due to invading armies, neglect, and plummeting literacy. However, the glory of libraries was retained in the Catholic Church. Rooms were utilized to protect the knowledge of books. In 814, a directive was sent to begin the cataloging of books, as there was so many to keep track of. This was the beginning of the organization and cataloging of books. -
1212
Monasteries!
By the 1200s, monasteries began distributing books to monks for them to read and contemplate. If one forget to return a book, a curse was placed upon their head. An order from the Council of Paris in 1212 declared that one could not be cursed for seeking knowledge; lending books was a mercy. It was in this year that the idea of lending books was introduced as a viable idea. (While today we still have fines for overdue books, luckily we are not cursed!) -
1440
The Printing Press!
With the invention of the printing press, books could be mass produced. Gone were the days of coping information by hand. Rather than spending time coping material (than protecting those precious copies), time was spent actually reading the books. The printing press made more information readily available to those seeking knowledge. This was the beginning of the collection of books among common people and the use of books in schools. -
Books in America (And Schools)!
As early as 1642, laws began to be put in place that sent male children to school to become literate. Soon after, ¨The Father of American Libraries¨ noticed the level of poverty and ignorance among citizens. Reverend Thomas Bray founded the Society of the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts to raise money and give primitive people access to books. The society created 39 libraries that were open to the general public. This began a thirst for knowledge in the general public. -
Library of Congress!
President John Adams approved $5,000 to be used for books for Congress. This was the beginning of the Library of Congress. Construction of the Library of Congress in Washington DC began on April 19th of 1893. The Library of Congress gives government officials access to books and knowledge for the purpose of research. -
Public Libraries!
The very first modern public library was opened in Boston in 1854. The BPL (Boston Public Library) became a model for other public libraries that succeeded the BPL. The library was open to all- the young and old, the rich and poor, men and women. This was the beginning of access to books for all. -
Dewey Decimal System!
American librarian Melvil Dewey created a system to organize books in 1876. The numbers range from 0 to the 900s and is most commonly used in organizing nonfiction. It is now the most generally used method for classifying books. -
The Internet!
After the invention of the computer came the creation of the World Wide Web (more commonly known as the Internet!) in 1990. This was a brand new phase of technology for libraries. Over time, resources began to become available online so that patrons could check out books and find information over the computer.
