MODERN LIBRARIES

Dunstan Times, Issue 2480, 10 May 1909, Page 5

MODERN LIBRARIES

The largest library at present existing is the Bibliotheque Nationals de Paris. It consists of over 2,000,000 volumes, nearly all of which are beautifully bound. It has i>een computed that, if the shelves on which these volumes rest were placed one against tlie other, their total length would represent some myriads of metres. There are also over 92,000 manuscripts in this great national library. Unfortunately the catalogue is still very incomplete. The second rank is held by the British Museum Library. The number of printed books at the British Museum is about 1,400.000, and it increases at the rate of 30.000 volumes per annum. In the manuscript room is a collection of 80,000 volumes made by George 111., and presented to the nation by George IV. As regards antiquities, the British Museum is unsurpassed by any library in the world. In the Egyptian gallery is the celebrated " Rosetta Stone,” the most valuable alone in existence, to which we owe the discovery of the hieroglyphic language of ancient Egypt. fi s The following is a Ust of the number of works in other great libraries of Europe vote, manuscripts Munich library .. . .yqcgoco 30,000, Petersburg (Imperial) ..800,000 21,00 - Vienna (Imperial).. ..500,000 20,000 Copenhagen 450,000 15.000 Vatican 400,00 a 40,000 The Bodleian Library, Oxford, wh r •; •'umbers over 450,000 vols. and passes--11 v rare manuscripts ; and the Unive I.ibrr.ry, Cambridge, which has now or--400.000 vols. The chief source of inco;: "I these two libraries is the Copyright Ac by virtue of which they can claim a copy cn. ? very book or pamphlet published in United Kingdom, - **'* .-