A Fascinating Glimpse Into The History Of The World's Most Famous Libraries

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Many of us love a trip to the library, but how did today’s libraries come to be? This fascinating infographic provides a brief history of some of the world’s most iconic libraries.

One of the earliest libraries we know of is the Royal Library of King Ashurbanipal, which was founded in the 7th Century BC in Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, which is now known as Kuyunjik, Iraq. When the city was destroyed, the library was covered was for over 2,000 years. Among the most unique and interesting artifacts were the original clay tablets of the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Another historic gem is The Library Company of Philadelphia, which was established by Benjamin Franklin in 1731. The library is home to a veritable treasure trove of artifacts, including the Mayflower Compact and over 2,000 items owned by Franklin.

In Washington, you’ll find the world’s largest library. The Library of Congress dates back to 1800, and it now serves as the research wing of Congress. This library has one of the most extensive collections of artifacts in the world, with the Geography and Map Division boasting over 5.5 million items alone. The jewel in the crown for many is the 1507 Martin Waldseemuler world map, which is referred to as the birth certificate of the US, as it is the first document to include the word America.

The British Library is another precious gem in the world collection. Although this library is not as old as some of those included in the infographic, it houses a scintillating collection of artifacts. If you were to display all of the books end to end, you’d need around 390 miles of shelves.

If you’re interested in the history of libraries, or you’re looking for unique, historic places to visit, why not check out the infographic below?