Library Amazing Facts

Amazing Facts of Library Science

World’s Oldest Library

The world’s oldest library is the oldest continually running library in the world is at the St. Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai, Egypt. It was built in the middle of the 6th century and houses the second largest collection of religious material in the world (after the Vatican). It has moved several times over the past 700 years, into newer and larger accommodation.

Largest Library

The largest library in the world is The Library of Congress, with more than 158 million items on approximately 838 miles of bookshelves. The collections include more than 36 million books and other print materials, 3.5 million recordings, 13.7 million photographs, 5.5 million maps, 6.7 million pieces of sheet music and 69 million manuscripts.

Smallest Library

The smallest library in the world has appeared on the streets of New York City – and it has space for just one reader at a time.The bright yellow plastic structure houses 40 books and aims to help city-dwellers take a break from the pace of life in the metropolis by chilling out with a good story.

Highest Library

The highest library according to Guinness World Records is the library on the 60th floor of the JW Marriott Hotel at Tomorrow Square in Shanghai, China, is situated at 230.9 m (757 ft 6 in) above street level. Membership is available to members of the public and the 103 shelves in the library contains an ever-expanding collection of Chinese and English books. The library measures 57 m² (614 ft²).

First Recorded Librarian

The first recorded librarian was Zenodotus (Ζηνόδοτος) of Ephesus, holding that post from the end of Ptolemy I’s reign. He was a Greek grammarian, literary critic, and Homeric scholar. A native of Ephesus and a pupil of Philitas of Cos, he was the first librarian of the Library of Alexandria. He lived during the reigns of the first two Ptolemies.  Demetrius of Phalerum put together the central collection for the Library of Alexandria while he was in Greece. He might be considered the originator of the library idea, although this honour should also belong to the first and second kings of the Ptolemaic period.

First Librarian Classification System

The first library classification system was set up during the Han Dynasty. In North America, it is believed that personal collections of books were brought over to the continent by French settlers in the 16th century.

First Book Mobile

The British Workman reported in 1857 a perambulating library operating in a circle of eight villages in Cumbria. A Victorian merchant and philanthropist, George Moore, created the project to “diffuse good literature among the rural population.” The Warrington Perambulating Library, set up in 1858, was another early British mobile library. This horse-drawn van was operated by the Warrington Mechanics’ Institute, which aimed to increase the lending of its books to enthusiastic local patrons.

Largest Fine for an Overdue Library Book

The world´s largest fine for an overdue library book is $345.14 (£203.29), the amount owed at two cents a day for the poetry book Days and Deeds checked out of Kewanee Public Library, Illinois, USA in April 1955 by Emily Canellos-Simms. Although the book was due back 19 April 1955, Emily found it in her mother´s house 47 years later and presented the library with a check for overdue fines.

Most Stolen Library Book

The most stolen library book is probably the Bible, followed by the Guinness World Records book.

First Floating Library Service

The first floating library service started in 1959 using a range of ships. The first custom-built ship was put into service in 1963. It is built at Oma Yard and is 24 m (80 ft) long. The ship is owned by Vinnes Skyssbåtservice, and is used for tourist cruises in the summer.

Book Return

In Norway, you can return your library book anywhere in the country regardless of where it was loaned.

No Window

Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University has no windows because the walls are made of translucent marble.

Largest Single Floor Library

A 124,500 square foot abandoned Walmart in McAllen, Texas, has been turned into the largest single-floor public library in the United States.

Human Skin

The Harvard University library collection of books bound in human skin.

Bakhtiyar Khilji

Bakhtiyar Khilji destroyed the ancient university and library of Nalanda in 1193 in hopes of uprooting Buddhism. The destruction of the library is considered responsible for the demise of ancient Indian scientific thought in Maths, Astronomy, Alchemy, and Anatomy.

Library Card

According to the American Library Association, 58% of adults in the United States have a library card.

Students in United States

According to the American Library Association, students in the United States make 1.5 billion visits to school libraries during the school year.