Library
Library
Library (/ˈlaɪbrɛri/, from Latin liber, meaning "book") is a collection of sources of information and similar resources, made accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing. It provides physical or digital access to material, and may be a physical location or a virtual space, or both. A library's collection can include books, periodicals, newspapers, manuscripts, films, maps, prints, documents, microform, CDs, cassettes, videotapes, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, e-books, audiobooks, databases, and other formats.
Etymology
The term library comes from the Latin word liber, which means "book". However, the concept of a library predates the invention of the book, with tablet libraries dating back to the ancient Sumerians. The first libraries consisted of archives of the earliest form of writing—the clay tablets in cuneiform script discovered in temple rooms in Sumer, some dating back to 2600 BC.
Types of Libraries
There are four main types of libraries:
- Public library: These are created through legislation within the jurisdiction they serve. Accordingly, they are given certain benefits, such as taxpayer funding, but must adhere to service standards and meet a community's needs.
- Academic library: These libraries are attached to universities, colleges, and other learning institutions and serve the students and faculty of that and other academic institutions.
- School library: A library within a school where students, staff, and often, parents of a public or private school have access to a variety of resources.
- Special library: These libraries are developed to support the mission of their sponsoring organization and their collections and services are more specialized.
Related Terms
- Book: A set of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of ink, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side.
- Periodical: A publication that appears in a new edition on a regular schedule.
- Manuscript: A document written by hand or typewritten, as opposed to being mechanically printed or reproduced.
- Database: An organized collection of data stored and accessed electronically.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Library
- Wikipedia's article - Library
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