Library
the name given to a collection of books, and to the building in which it is located. Libraries existed in ancient Egypt and Assyria, and Pisistratus is credited with the honor of inbrated library of antiquity was the Alexandrian. In the West libraries of about 337 B. C. By far the most celebrated library of antiquity was the Alexandrian. In the West libraries of note were founded in the second half most celebrated was that in the abbey of Charlemagne. In France one of the most celebrated was that in the abbey St. Germain des Prés, near Paris. In were valuable. In Spain, in the 12th century, the Moors had 70 public liand in the 11th century that of Hirschau, were valuable. In Spain, in the 12th century, the Moors had 70 public liparticularly valuable for rare books and MSS. The spread of education develop- Rome, and the Bodleian, Oxford, are Milan, Bologna, Naples, and the Advocates', Edinburgh. The Vatican library, particularly valuable for rare books and MSS. The spread of education developing a taste for knowledge, has led all Public Library systems consisthighly civilized nations to establish exthe people, each provided with books that are most in demand in that section of ing of small libraries easy of access for the country. The Public Library system of the United States may be said to extend to every corner of the country. By GRESS, LIBRARY OF. ries books are provided for persons living in remote country districts. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. See CON- GRESS, LIBRARY OF.