100 things challenge - 32: Libraries, part 2
In my 100-things challenge, I did a post about libraries before. But it is a subject I know many of you love and there are just a lot of nice facts to share concerning libraries, so here is Libraries - part 2. In the previous post I talked about the oldest libraries, today I'll give you some facts about the largest libraries in the world!
Currently listed in the Guinness World Records Book as the largest library is the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. Located in four buildings (3 in Washington and 1 in Culpeper, Virginia) it houses over 32 million books and over 147 million objects in total (next to books; microfilm reels, maps, sheet music and prints and photographic images). All these items need a whopping total of 1,349 kilometers of shelf space!
The Library was instituted in 1800 and housed in the United States Capitol until 1897, when it was moved to its currently oldest building: the Thomas Jefferson Building. Extra buildings were added to the Library in 1939, 1976 and most recently in 2007. The Library is open to the public, but only employees, MPs, Supreme Court justices and other high-ranking government officials are allowed to check out books. Other users may read the collection inside the library buildings only.
Other very large libraries are the British Library in London, the National Library of China in Beijing and the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg.
Currently listed in the Guinness World Records Book as the largest library is the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. Located in four buildings (3 in Washington and 1 in Culpeper, Virginia) it houses over 32 million books and over 147 million objects in total (next to books; microfilm reels, maps, sheet music and prints and photographic images). All these items need a whopping total of 1,349 kilometers of shelf space!
The Library was instituted in 1800 and housed in the United States Capitol until 1897, when it was moved to its currently oldest building: the Thomas Jefferson Building. Extra buildings were added to the Library in 1939, 1976 and most recently in 2007. The Library is open to the public, but only employees, MPs, Supreme Court justices and other high-ranking government officials are allowed to check out books. Other users may read the collection inside the library buildings only.
Other very large libraries are the British Library in London, the National Library of China in Beijing and the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg.