Library world records / Godfrey Oswald.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Oswald, Godfrey, 1966-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Libraries--Miscellanea.

Libraries.

Books--Miscellanea.

Books.

Information resources--Miscellanea.

Information resources.

Information services--Miscellanea.

Information services.

Genre:

Trivia and miscellanea.

Physical Description:

xvii, 238 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Co., 2004.

Summary:

Which university in the world has the largest library? What is the oldest public library in Europe? What year was the first CD-ROM book released? In what year was the first book printed in Turkish? When was the first major computer database released? Which is the world's busiest public library? To find the answers, you could spend days scanning hundreds of reference sources in several different libraries -- or you could simply look in this book. Here are hundreds of facts about libraries, periodicals, books and reference databases around the world, illustrating their evolution from crude and simple to complex and sophisticated. The book's more than 300 entries are organized by national libraries; public and subscription libraries; university and academic libraries; specialty libraries and archives; books, periodicals and bookstores; catalogs, databases and technology; information science organizations; and library buildings.

Contents:

World Records for National Libraries

1. Oldest national libraries founded before 1700 5

2. Largest national libraries with over 10 million books 10

3. 5 largest national libraries in the Asia-Pacific region 13

4. 5 largest national libraries in Latin America 15

5. 6 largest national libraries in Africa and the Middle East 16

World Records for Public and Subscription Libraries

6. Largest public libraries with over 5 million books 17

7. 5 largest public libraries in Europe 18

8. 2 largest city public libraries in the U.K. 19

9. 4 largest county public libraries in the U.K. 19

10. Public library with the largest collection of medical books in the U.K. 20

11. Busiest public library 20

12. Busiest public library in the U.K. 20

13. Largest existing circulating library in the U.K. 21

14. 2 largest public libraries in France 21

15. 2 largest public libraries in Germany 22

16. Public libraries with the largest budgets in the U.S. 22

17. States with the largest library budgets in the U.S. 22

18. States with the smallest library budget in the U.S. 22

19. 2 largest public libraries in Asia 23

20. 3 largest public libraries in Latin American 23

21. 2 largest public libraries in the Middle East 23

22. 2 largest public libraries in Africa 23

23. Countries with the largest number of public libraries 24

24. Countries with the largest number of public libraries per capita 25

25. G-8 country with the smallest number of public libraries per capita 25

26. 6 oldest public libraries in Europe 25

27. 3 oldest subscription or commercial circulating libraries in the U.K. 27

28. 10 oldest public libraries in the U.K. 28

29. Oldest public library in Russia 29

30. Oldest public library in Germany 29

31. First subscription library in the U.S. 29

32. 10 oldest public libraries in the U.S. 29

33. 5 oldest public libraries in Latin America 30

34. 5 oldest public libraries in the Caribbean Islands 31

35. Oldest subscription library in Canada 32

36. Oldest public library in Canada 32

37. Oldest subscription library in Asia 32

38. Oldest public libraries in Asia 32

39. Oldest public libraries in Australia 32

40. Oldest public libraries in the Middle East 33

41. Oldest public library in Africa 33

42. First public library commemorative coins of the millennium 33

43. First public library commemorative postage stamp 33

World Records for University and Academic Libraries

44. Largest academic libraries with over 7 million books 34

45. 10 largest university or academic libraries in Europe 37

46. 8 largest university libraries in the U.K. 39

47. 6 largest university libraries in France 40

48. 6 largest university libraries in Germany 40

49. 5 largest university libraries in Italy 41

50. 6 largest university libraries in Austria and Switzerland 42

51. 6 largest university libraries in Spain and Portugal 43

52. 5 largest university libraries in Scandinavia 43

53. 5 largest university libraries in Belgium and the Netherlands 44

54. 2 largest university libraries in Ireland 44

55. 2 largest university libraries in the Vatican City 45

56. 2 largest university libraries in Greece 45

57. 7 largest university libraries in Russia 45

58. 10 largest university libraries in Eastern Europe 46

59. 5 largest university libraries in Canada 47

60. 6 largest university libraries in Japan 47

61. 5 largest university libraries in China 47

62. 15 largest university libraries in the Asia-Pacific region 48

63. 10 largest university libraries in Latin America 48

64. 10 largest university libraries in the Middle East 50

65. 5 largest university libraries in Africa 51

66. 10 oldest university libraries in the world and the Middle East 52

67. Earliest academic library in Europe 53

68. 10 oldest university libraries in Europe 54

69. 5 oldest university libraries in the U.K. 55

70. 5 oldest university libraries in France 55

71. 5 oldest university libraries in Germany 56

72. 5 oldest university libraries in Spain 57

73. 10 oldest university libraries in Eastern Europe 57

74. 12 other significant early university libraries in Western Europe 58

75. 5 oldest university libraries in the Asia-Pacific Region 59

76. 10 oldest university libraries in the Americas 60

77. 5 oldest university libraries in Africa 61

World Records for Specialty Libraries and Archives

78. 6 largest medical libraries 63

79. Largest biomedical and scientific periodicals library 64

80. Oldest dental school library 64

81. Oldest medical school libraries 65

82. Oldest medical school library in the U.S. 65

83. Oldest medical school library in Asia 65

84. Oldest medical school library in the U.K. 65

85. 5 largest medical libraries in the U.K. 66

86. Largest pharmaceutical libraries 66

87. Largest international medical library 66

88. Largest medical library in Scandinavia 66

89. Largest library in Europe on deafness and hearing loss 67

90. Largest library for political science and economics 67

91. Largest library specializing in geography 68

92. Largest library in the Middle East devoted to oil exploration 69

93. Largest engineering libraries 69

94. Largest music library 70

95. Largest poetry library 70

96. Largest film and television library in Europe 70

97. Largest agricultural libraries 71

98. Largest zoological library 71

99. Largest botanical library 71

100. 6 largest military libraries 72

101. Largest library in the U.K. on prison services 72

102. Largest law library 73

103. Largest law libraries in Europe and Asia 73

104. Largest art library 75

105. 2 largest libraries with in Europe specialized collections of books on Africa 75

106. Largest astronomy library 75

107. Largest libraries in Europe specializing in education 75

108. Largest social sciences library 76

109. Largest religious libraries 76

110. Oldest library in the U.K.

devoted to women 77

111. Largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works 78

112. Oldest national archives 78

113. Oldest national archives in the Americas 79

114. Oldest national archives in the Middle East 79

115. Oldest national archives in Asia 79

116. Oldest national archives in Africa 79

Miscellaneous World Records for Libraries

117. 18 major libraries that have suffered devastating fires or natural disasters 80

118. Library with the most branches worldwide 82

119. Oldest private library in the U.S. 83

120. Most expensive library 83

121. 14 major films that featured libraries 84

122. Some notable people who have worked in libraries or as librarians 85

123. 40 translations of the word "library" around the world 90

124. Earliest libraries 91

World Records for Books, Periodicals and Bookstores

125. 10 oldest existing written works 96

126. Earliest written works in German 107

127. Earliest written works in Mayan 107

128. Earliest written works in Arabic 107

129. Earliest written works in Japanese 108

130. Earliest written works in French 108

131. Earliest written works in Spanish 109

132. Earliest written works in English and Irish 109

133. Earliest written works in Dutch 112

134. Earliest written works from Africa 112

135. Oldest written medical works 114

136. 2 oldest existing books made from paper 114

137. First book printed with movable type 117

138. First book printed in English 119

139. First book printed in English in the U.K. 120

140. First book printed in English in the U.S. 120

141. First book printed in French 121

142. First book printed in Italian 121

143. First book printed in Spanish 121

144. First book printed in Russian 121

145. First books printed in Scandinavia 122

146. First book printed in Irish 122

147. First book printed in Farsi 122

148. First book printed in Hebrew 122

149. First book printed in Hindi 123

150. First book printed in Turkish 123

151. First book printed in Latin America 123

152. First book printed in Africa 123

153. First book printed in Southeast Asia 124

154. Largest collection of books printed before 1501 124

155. 5 earliest dates in copyright 125

156. First regular newspapers 126

157. First printed magazines 126

158. First scholarly or academic journal published in the U.K. 126

159. First law journal 126

160. First medical journal 127

161. First paperbacks 127

162. Earliest professional handbooks for librarians 127

163. Most popular handbook for librarians in the U.S. 127

164. Oldest existing library periodical 128

165. First library serial in the U.S. 128

166. Oldest and largest general reference book in the English language 128

167. Largest general reference book in the French language 128

168. Biggest and smallest books 129

169. Most overdue library book 130

170. Most popular author among library users in the U.K. 130

171. First major book-burning ritual 131

172. 12 most expensive books 132

173. 5 earliest writers of dictionaries in English 134

174. Oldest book museum 134

175. Oldest continuously trading bookstore in Europe 135

176. Oldest existing bookstore 135

177. First book club 135

178. Largest bookstore 135

179. Largest online bookstore 137

180. Largest online bookstore in Europe 137

181. Largest online bookstore in Asia 137

182. Largest online bookstore in Latin America 137

183. Largest online bookstore in Africa 138

184. Largest online bookstore in the Middle East 138

185. Largest bookstores around the world 138

186. Largest publishers of books 144

187. Countries with the largest number of books published in more than 10 major local languages 145

188. Largest annual book fair 146

189. Largest annual book fair in the U.S. 146

190. Largest annual book fair in Asia 146

191. Largest annual book fair in Latin America 146

192. Largest annual book fair in the Middle East 147

193. Largest annual book fair in Africa 147

World Records for Library Buildings

194. Oldest existing library buildings 148

195. First library building to use extensive electrical lighting 151

196. 8 tallest library buildings 152

197. 5 largest library buildings 154

198. 3 largest university library buildings 157

199. 4 largest public library buildings 158

200. Largest scientific and technical library building 158

201. Most fascinating library buildings 158

202. 10 most fascinating national library buildings 159

203. 10 most fascinating university library buildings 163

204. 10 most fascinating public library buildings 166

205. 10 other fascinating library buildings 170

World Records for Library Catalogs, Databases and Technology

206. Oldest library classification scheme 175

207. Most popular library cataloging principles 176

208. Largest national library catalog 176

209. Largest national union library catalog in Europe 177

210. Largest unified university library catalog in the U.S. 177

211. Largest unified university library catalog in the U.K. 177

212. Largest unified library catalog in France 177

213. Largest unified international library catalog 178

214. First computerized library catalog or OPAC 178

215. First library OPAC in the U.S. 179

216. First library OPAC in Europe 179

217. First library OPAC in Australia 179

218. First public library OPAC in the U.K. 179

219. First companies to develop library OPACs 179

220. First library to make use of microfilm 180

221. First major computer database 180

222. First and largest database host 181

223. First database host in France 182

224. First database host in the U.K. 182

225. First database host in Germany 182

226. Largest database host in Russia 182

227. First database host to introduce networked CD-ROM access 183

228. Largest database host in Europe 183

229. Oldest database host in Europe 183

230. Largest database host in Japan 183

231. Largest database host in Scandinavia 184

232. First indexing service 184

233. First citation indexes 184

234. Largest citation index database service 184

235. First major KWIC indexing service 185

236. First table-of-contents database 185

237. First and largest full-text databases 185

238. Largest commercially available microform collection 185

239. Largest electronic information services 186

240. Largest periodicals database 186

241. Largest collection of electronic journals 186

242. First major reference book on CD-ROM 187

243. Oldest electronic newspaper coverage 187

244. Largest producers of newspapers on CD-ROM 187

245. Largest database on the latest books published in English 188

246. Largest company information databases 188

247. Largest database on businesses in the U.S. 189

248. Largest database on companies in the U.K. 189

249. Largest database on companies in Germany 189

250. Largest English language database on companies in Japan 189

251. Largest economics and financial database in Japanese 189

252. Largest business and economics periodicals databases 190

253. Largest collection of U.S. legal databases 190

254. Second largest U.S. legal databases and largest European legal databases 190

255. 3 largest U.K. legal databases 190

256. Largest Canadian legal databases 191

257. First and largest biomedical database 191

258. First and largest printed medical indexing service 191

259. Largest biomedical and pharmaceutical database in Europe 191

260. Largest DNA database 192

261. Largest agricultural databases 192

262. Largest biological abstracting and indexing service 193

263. Largest zoological databases 193

264. Largest science and technology database in Asia 193

265. Largest chemical abstracting and indexing service 193

266. Largest engineering abstracting and indexing service 194

267. Largest civil engineering database 194

268. Largest electrical and electronic engineering database 194

269. Largest technical standards database 195

270. Largest database on pulp and paper industries 195

271. Largest database in psychology 195

272. Largest genealogical database 196

273. Largest index to journal articles and documents in education 196

274. Largest bibliographic database on transportation information 196

275. Largest library and information science abstracting and indexing service 197

276. First commercial information brokerage 197

277. Most popular stand-alone bibliographic database software 197

278. Largest online information event in the U.K. 197

279. Largest online information event in Germany 198

280. Largest online information event in France 198

281. Largest online information event in the U.S. 198

282. Largest digital images database 198

283. Largest patent databases 199

284. Largest patent database in Europe 199

285. Largest database of U.S. patents 199

286. Largest database on chemical and pharmaceutical patents 200

287. Most popular CD-ROM information retrieval software used in libraries to access networked CD-ROM databases 200

288. First major CD-ROM database used in libraries 200

289. Largest search engine 201

290. Largest archives of web pages 201

291. Largest document supply service and inter-lending service 202

292. Largest scientific document supply services 202

293. Largest library network or consortium 203

294. Largest providers of subscription services for libraries 203

295. Oldest providers of subscription services for libraries 203

296. Largest electronic trading services for libraries in the U.K. 204

297. 10 greatest inventions used in libraries today 204

World Records for Library and Information Science Organizations

298. First library school 205

299. Oldest accredited library school in North America 205

300. 5 oldest university library schools in Europe 206

301. Oldest university library school in Asia 206

302. Oldest university library school in the Middle East 206

303. First university in the U.S. to offer an extensive program in information science 206

304. First university in the U.K. to offer an extensive program in information science 207

305. Top 10 U.S.

library schools for the year 2000 208

306. Largest national library association 208

307. Largest and first national library association in Europe 209

308. First national library association in Asia 209

309. First national library association in the Middle East 209

310. Largest national information science association 209

311. Most prestigious award for U.K. and European information scientists 210

312. First full-time paid librarian in the U.K. 210

313. 6 libraries with over 800 staff members and their annual budgets 210

314. 212 largest and most important libraries 211

315. 95 oldest libraries 216

Saint Jerome, the Librarian's Patron Saint 219

Godfrey Oswald's 18 Greatest Texts of All Time 220.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

078641619X

OCLC:

52787456