October 6th, 2012 | by Jill
How old is the world’s oldest library?
Libraries have played a very important role for humans for a long time. Have you ever wondered how long libraries have existed?
Well, as it turns out, the oldest library in the world, the, was built in approximately 300 BC in Alexandria, Egypt. Sadly, it doesn’t actually exist anymore. Although it functioned as a major learning center in its time, it was accidentally burned down by Julius Caesar during the Alexandrian War and was never the same after that!
As far as continually running libraries go, the in Sinai, Egypt, was constructed around 550 AD. It has one of the largest collection of religious literature in the world and a collection of Byzantine manuscripts. The library isn’t accessible to the public! Only monks and invited scholars are allowed inside.
That brings us to the oldest, still running, public library in the world. e (National Library of France). It dates back to 1368, making it almost 650 years old. It is absolutely beautiful and fully accessible to the public… so long as you can get to France!
In Canada, the first libraries were part of religious institutions and ordinary people weren’t allowed in. The first public library — that was open to ordinary people — was founded in Quebec City by in 1779 — more than 200 years ago.
via
Tags: History, library
About the Author
Jill 's favourite books include The Sound and the Fury, every one of the Harry Potter books, The Fault in Our Stars, The Princess Bride, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and A Little Princess. She wrote her first book - Chestnut Squirrel Stories - in fourth grade and has gone on to publish a number of books. She also writes for television and the web.
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Sapporo Snow Festival (Yuki Matsuri)This exuberant celebration of snow and ice has been held since 1950 in Sapporo, the capital city Hokkaido. The week's activities feature a colorful parade and competitive events in winter sports, as well as a display of colossal snow sculptures along the main street and in Odori Park. The sculptures are spectacular—intricately carved and often several stories high. About three weeks before the festival, a wooden frame is built and packed with snow; after the snow has hardened the frame is removed and the carving begins. A different theme is chosen each year for the sculptures. More... |
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Who can look down upon the grave even of an enemy, and not feel a compunctious throb, that he should ever have warred with the poor handful of earth that lies moldering before him?
Washington Irving (1783-1859) |
