library system chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
HISTORIC BACKGROUND
A library ( derived from the French word "librairie" and Latin "liber" which means book) is an organized collection of information resources which are made available and accessible to a defined community for the purpose reference or borrowing. A library does not only provide physical access, but also digital access to information resources and would be a physical building or room, or a virtual space, or even both at the same time.( )
The collection in a library may include books, periodicals, newspapers, manuscripts, films, maps, CDs, cassettes, videotapes, DVDs, e-books, audiobooks, databases, and physical or digital information resources.
The first libraries consisted of archives of the earliest form of writing - the clay tablets in cuneiform script discovered in Sumer, some dating back to 2600 BC. These written archives mark the end of prehistory and the start of history. The earliest discovered private archives were kept at Ugarit. There is also evidence of libraries at Nippur about 1900 BC and at Nineveh about 700 BC showing a library classification system.
Archives of the earliest form of writings (the clay tablets in cuneiform script, discovered in Sumer) made up the first libraries. Some these writings date far back to 2600 BC and mainly contained records of commercial transactions or inventories. ( Maclay, Kathleen, May 2003 "Clay cuneiform tablets from ancient Mesopotamia to be placed online”)
Papyrus of Ancient Egypt containing government and temple records were also similar. Ugarit held the earliest discovered private archives. Evidence also reveals libraries at Nippur (about 1900 BC) and at Nineveh about 700 BC showing a library classification system.( The American International Encyclopedia, New York: J. J. Little & Ives, 1954; Volume IX)
At Nineveh, there has been a discovery over 30,000 clay tablets from the Library of Ashurbanipal. The
HISTORIC BACKGROUND
A library ( derived from the French word "librairie" and Latin "liber" which means book) is an organized collection of information resources which are made available and accessible to a defined community for the purpose reference or borrowing. A library does not only provide physical access, but also digital access to information resources and would be a physical building or room, or a virtual space, or even both at the same time.( )
The collection in a library may include books, periodicals, newspapers, manuscripts, films, maps, CDs, cassettes, videotapes, DVDs, e-books, audiobooks, databases, and physical or digital information resources.
The first libraries consisted of archives of the earliest form of writing - the clay tablets in cuneiform script discovered in Sumer, some dating back to 2600 BC. These written archives mark the end of prehistory and the start of history. The earliest discovered private archives were kept at Ugarit. There is also evidence of libraries at Nippur about 1900 BC and at Nineveh about 700 BC showing a library classification system.
Archives of the earliest form of writings (the clay tablets in cuneiform script, discovered in Sumer) made up the first libraries. Some these writings date far back to 2600 BC and mainly contained records of commercial transactions or inventories. ( Maclay, Kathleen, May 2003 "Clay cuneiform tablets from ancient Mesopotamia to be placed online”)
Papyrus of Ancient Egypt containing government and temple records were also similar. Ugarit held the earliest discovered private archives. Evidence also reveals libraries at Nippur (about 1900 BC) and at Nineveh about 700 BC showing a library classification system.( The American International Encyclopedia, New York: J. J. Little & Ives, 1954; Volume IX)
At Nineveh, there has been a discovery over 30,000 clay tablets from the Library of Ashurbanipal. The