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2000 BCE
Mesopotamian Libraries
One of the first libraries was discovered in Syria. Archeologist have found over 15,000 clay tablets! -
288 BCE
The Library of Alexandria
A HUGE library was built in Roman conquered area in Egypt. It held huge amounts of scrolls and knowledge of the ancient world. -
Period: Jan 1, 800 to Dec 31, 1200
Medieval Books
Some of the earliest monasteries were formed where they would hand write each and every book. Towards the end of the period, ideas such as cataloging become very important for there were so many books. -
Jan 1, 1300
University Libraries
During the 1300's, the formations of universities were becoming more and more frequent. With these universities, for example Oxford, would then create libraries with specific information on the classes the students would attend to. Books available would for example be about medicine or philosophy, and any other subject the teacher would teach the student. Also in this time, innovations such as the book shelf became available. -
Jan 1, 1440
The First Printing Press
With the invention of the printing press, books could be made easily and quickly. With this technology, more books could be made, making them more available and less expensive. -
Libraries in Early America
The Society of the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, created by Reverend Thomas Bray, was a organization that help create libraries and bring many books to the the new world. These libraries were the first ones in America. In there time they created 39 libraries in the New World. -
Personal Libraries
Before public libraries were created, wealthy people would create large personal libraries. One of the most interesting of these personal libraries is the Redwood Library in Newport, Rhode Island. It was created in 1750 by many wealthy Quakers. -
The First Public Libraries
The First public Library was the Boston Public Library. It was made to help create a wider education for the public. Many other libraries followed in Boston's foot steps and a Public Library movement was made. -
The American Library Association
This group, formed by Melvil Dewey and Charles Cutter, formed some of the key aspects of what the library is and what the library should hold as rules and universal ideas on how to run it. Both founders brought in some of the most used ideas in Libraries today. -
The Computer!
In the 1990's, libraries started to use computers and the world wide web more often as a source of information for both students and adults. This starting our most modern form of libraries today.
