WHAT IS THE BRIEF HISTORY OF LIBRARIES

BRIEF HISTORY OF LIBRARIES

INTRODUCTION

The word library is derives from the Latin (Libber) meaning “book” certainly,

before the invention of book, the history was to a collection of clay tablets,

papyruses, and scrolls were housed in the early libraries long before the concept

of the book emerged. In fact, the history of libraries began as early as

4000.BC.The first Libraries consisted of archives of the earliest form of writings.

The clay Tablets in cuneiform scripts were discovered in temple rooms in summer

,dating back to2600BC.These archives, Which mainly consist of records of, efforts

to organize commercial transaction or an inventories. In fact, over 30 ,000-clay

tablets were discovered from Ashurbanipal library at Nineveh.

In the contemporary world today, library can notes a body of recorded

information brought together for a specific purposes, organized for use, and

made available to user. Indeed, library is a collection of information in different

forms, printed, non –printed, published or un published materials, including audio

visuals.

However, those responsible for acquiring, storing, organizing and making

available of records are generally known as librarians. In some organization and

institution the librarians are being addressed with, different names some

addressed records managers, some as archivist, some as media specialist and as

information scientists. The differences in the use of names it depend open where

a librarian. Found himself. Over the year, the format of the printed word has changed considerably over the

centuries, but the basic functions of the library have remained remarkably

constant. These functions are four. These are the collection of information,

preservation of information.

In the early period of western civilization clay, tablets were the first medium of

writing. They were used as early as fourth Millennium BC record, commercial,

historical, literary and scientific in formation. Clay tablets gave way to papyrus

and papyrus gave way to parchment and parchment gave way to paper.

In Asia, before, tortoise shell store, and bronze and the first medium to record

information, and later to paper in 2nd century AD.

The early books produced on paper were hand written and are referred to as

manuscript the introduction of printing form movable type in the mid 15thcentury

in Germany led to the gradual replacement of the manuscript by the printed

books. The existence of printing press made it easy to produce multiple copies of

the same text for use in universities and other centers of learning.

In –text question (ITQs) what is the meaning of a library.

In- text answer (ITAs) a library is a Latin word means (libber) meaning “books” 

1.1 Ancient library

The origin of the library as we know it today can be traced to ancient

human settlements. It emerged when the need arose to preserve and utilize

records of civilization. In effect, without some device for recording human

activities and ideas, nothing in form of libraries existed. This helps to explain why

not much is known about the “early man” who moved about in search of food

and shelter. The early settlements were based on Agriculture, which in turn

enabled him to devote time and thought to things other than food and shelter.

Indeed accounts of the origins and developments of writing suggest that it was

often part of development created through human creativity in writings. through

pictorial, or visual writing.

In- text question (ITQS): where do you think library started?

In- text Answer (ITAS): Library Originated through human settlement area.

1.1.1 Temple library

Temple Libraries are libraries that were housed some religious records. Such as

spiritual books, prayers book, treatise, marriage record, divorce records, birth and

death records. The temple library maintains Jews religious documents, canon

laws, and Historical events.

1.1.2 Royal library

The royal library is a library that were established by community leaders

e.g. churches, kings, queen and emperors. The administrative documents were

placed in the palaces, where future references of research and documentation are made. Because materials are acquired from different parts of empire of the

land.

1.1.4 Mosque library

The mosque library are libraries that are developed by Muslims leaders,

whose collections are on Islamic moral value, and contained mainly rare

documents especially on Islamic religion. The Muslims of the prophet Muhammad

compiled written records of his teaching and revelations, and transcribed them

onto papyrus codices a few years after his death in 632 AD. These manuscripts

become known as the Quran and the hadith, and they quickly become the

centerpieces of the Islamic religion. Muslim (followers of islam) were encouraged

to read the quran regularly and to memorize substantial portions of the text. As

islam spread throughout the middle east in subsequent centuries, muslim

established libraries( also known as maktabat, madrassas, or school) of sacred

writings in their mosques.

In the late 7th century mu’awiyah I, the government of Syria and first caliph

(religious and secular leader ) of the Islamic Umayyad dynasty, reorganized his

extensive personal library by modeling it on the library of Alexandria in Egypt. In

the 8th century one of mu’awiyah’s successors improved and enlarged the library.

He also appointed a curator of books to maintain a collection of hundreds of

manuscripts, including works on chemistry, medicine, astrology, and military

science.

Libraries grew quickly throughout the middle east in the 8th century after

Muslims adopted methods of making paper that they learned from the Chinese.

After the Abbasids took control of large segments of the eastern Umayyad Empire in 750, Abbasid caliph abu ja’far al- Mansur ordered classical Greek, Latin, Persian,

and Indian works translated into Arabic. The Umayyad, who had retained control

of western portions of their empire and the Iberian peninsula, developed large

libraries and book markets in 10th century Baghdad (in what s now Iraq) and in

Cordoba, Spain. European Christian monks frequented the collections of 400, 000

books in the Cordoba library in search of new text. Among the Arab collections,

the Europeans discovered translations works by Greek mathematician Euclid,

Greek philosopher Aristotle, Egyptian mathematician and astronomer Ptolemy,

and roman physician Galen.

Some of the most famous Islamic madrssas included baitul iilam (house of

learning), established in about 988 in cairo, Egypt; baitul hikma in Baghdad, Iraq,

in the 9th Century; and al-Zaituna Mosque University, founded in Cairo in 970 and

today is the oldest existing university in the world (al-Azhar, university of

Cairo].and Saudi Arabia. Most of the libraries were founded in Mecca (Makkah)

and Madina (Madinat-en-Nabi). These libraries become noted for their collections

of manuscripts and rare books.

Body of writing materials was essembled in Mesopotamia (in present day

Iraq and Syria ) more than 5000 years ago. Ever since then, cultures have

established libraries whenever social, political and economic developments have

enabled them to record and collect knowledge. The formation of libraries

required the support of political or religious leader who recognized that historical

records were necessary to document, protect, and promote their society’s

achievements. Libraries also could not have developed without readers a core group of resources literate, educated people who had enough leisure time and

motivation to use the new Library. Certainly, documents include Qur’an, Hadith, Arabic language Grammar

and literature, jurisprudence and Islamic search (History), works on Islamic

science, philosophy, and theology were also found in the mosque for research

and documentation.

In-Text questions [ITQs] ; In the past most religious centers are regarded as

what?

In-Text answers[ITAs]I n the past most religious centers are regarded as

Library.

1.1.5 Church library

A church library played a prominent role in the transmitting culture during

Roman period. By the 4th century AD Rome was in decline as the World’s political

and cultural center, as by invaders intensified, Rome’s strong library tradition

began to disintegrate. The center of the fading Roman Empire during this period

of decline, moved eastward to [the present day

Istanbul]Constantinople.consequently,the Byzantine empere became a

haven for many great book collections.Emperor Constantine the great copied the

Roman pattern of dividing collections by Language when he established his own

palace library in 300AD.In subsequent centuries Constantinople’s churches

accumulated small libraries of liturgical manuscripts,While some of its

monasteries built impressive collections numbering nearly 10,000 Items.

Christians dispersed and destroyed Roman library collections when

defeated Rome paganism during 4th century AD.However,early Christians believed

in using books and library to disseminate and preserve their religious

writings.christian carried on the Roman concept of the library in collections

established by several Christian leaders,such as Saint Damascus1 in the fourth

century and Saint Gregory1 in the 6th century.in usin.Saint Benedict established

MONT CASSINO Library Monastery in 589 AD. both religious and non religious

writings are featured in the church library; the library holds materials like canon

laws and some religious literatures. Bibles and some important documents are

also kept in the church.

Conclusion

The above session introduced the basic study of the brief history of the

libraries. And more especially the ancient libraries which includes temple library,

Royal library, Mosque library, and church library.