Introduction: National Libraries of the World

-



The idea of a dimly lit hall filled with shelves of dusty old books and somber librarians is a thing of the past. 21st century libraries have grown into mega-hubs of modern technology. As some of the largest keepers of knowledge in the world, national libraries encounter unique challenges and discover innovative solutions to ensure the preservation of a nation’s culture and heritage for future generations. Cutting edge techniques combined with expert skill allow national libraries to breathe life into the past. From cutting edge restoration techniques to high-tech interactive exhibits and global heritage programs, national libraries are far more than a vast depository for books, they play an integral part in the preservation of national culture and heritage around the world.


National Library of Turkey
National Library and Archive of Canada

Brazilian National Library

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Long hallway with two people and shelves full off newspapers on the right and the sides of the shelving units on the left that have large hand-crank wheels on the side.
National Library of Russia
National Library of New Zealand

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

National Library of Turkey : Millî Kütüphane

-
Image
The National Library of Turkey was founded in 1946, as a part of the modernization and secularization schemes of the early Republican government. Adnan Ötüken was appointed the first director of the library and oversaw the foundation and expansion of the library. He was chosen, in part because of his experience in Germany where he was educated in Library Science and worked with western librarians.  Adnan Ötüken was an accomplished librarian and is regarded as the founder of the Turkish library system. He served as the director of the National library until 165, lectured at Ankara University and hosted a weekly radio show on Ankara Radio called Kitap Saati (Book Hour). Ötüken also established the Turkish Librarian’s Association.  The National Library of Turkey grew quickly in the early years of its foundation. The early collection contained 8000 books, which prompted the creation of the national Library Charity in order to help the library expand its collection and to find storage space
Read more

National Library and Archives Canada

-
Image
In French, a nod to the country’s not so distant formation, the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is referred to as Bibliotheque et Archives Canada. The fourth largest library in the world, LAC falls under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Steven Guilbeault. The National Archives of Canada was originally founded under the name Public Archives of Canada in 1912 while the National Library of Canada was not founded until 1953. In 2004, the two entities were combined to form the Library and Archives Canada. Since its inception LAC has inadvertently reported to the Canadian Parliament through the current Minister of Canadian History.   The Library and Archives Canada holds adamant to the principle that their collection in its entirety, assembled over the course of 140 years, “is the shared documentary heritage of all Canadians and spans the entire history of [our] country.” Included in the collection, prospective visitors can expect to find the following: an estimated
Read more

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina: A glimpse into Egypt’s Heritage and Culture

-
Image
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina : A glimpse into Egypt’s Heritage and Culture  Covered by: Ryan Lamberts Conceived in 1974 by an Alexandrian University professor in cooperation and funding from the Egyptian government and international donors, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina was built as a revivalist library to honor the original Library of Alexandria. Construction began in 1989 on this expensive 220 million dollar project and was completed in 2001. Made of Aswan granite and covered with over 120 different scripts on its granite face, this library celebrates its creation thanks to Egypt and countries around the world. In its interior it contains 11-floors: one large reading room, and many places of culture that speak to Egypt’s past heritage preserved in time. From the outside to the interior, it is one of the special treasures of Egypt. Today, the library houses six specialized libraries for the arts and multimedia; children, young people, the blind and the visually-impaired, an Exchange an
Read more