FAQ
What is the largest library in the world?
The Library of Congress holds more than 170 million items on about 838 miles of shelving. The British Library is comparable in size. Rankings differ because libraries count books, maps, recordings, and files in different ways.
What is the oldest library still in use?
The Al-Qarawiyyin library in Fez, Morocco, founded in 859, is generally called the oldest continuously operating library. The abbey library of Saint Gall in Switzerland has held books on the same site since the 8th century.
Can anyone use a national library?
Usually yes, with registration. Most national libraries are research libraries with free reading rooms, though borrowing is often limited to on site use. Monastery libraries typically charge museum admission and restrict handling of old volumes.
What is legal deposit?
Legal deposit is a law requiring publishers to supply copies of new works to designated libraries, such as the British Library or the Bibliotheque nationale de France. It preserves the national published output for future generations.
What is the difference between a library and an archive?
Libraries collect published material such as books, journals, and media, usually in many copies. Archives hold unique records created by organizations and people, such as letters, files, and photographs, and arrange them to document activity over time.
Who runs the US presidential libraries?
The National Archives and Records Administration operates them. Private donations pay for construction, and federal law requires that presidential papers belong to the public.