Library World Records [Paperback]

Godfrey Oswald (Author)

Book Description

Series: Library World Records | Publication Date: March 3, 2004

Which university in the world has the largest library? What is the name of Europe’s oldest public library? What year was the first CD-ROM book released? In what years were the first books in English, French, Spanish and Turkish printed? When was the first major computer database released? What is the title of the largest book ever published? Where is the world’s busiest public library? To find the answers to these questions, you could spend days scanning hundreds of reference sources in several different libraries, but the answers to all of these questions can be found in this volume. This book not only provides information about and comparisons of libraries; it is also a story of libraries and books from the earliest times to the present. The hundreds of facts about libraries, periodicals, books and reference databases around the world illustrate their evolution from crude and simple to sophisticated, complex and efficient.

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

For those who love lists--and not necessarily the "10 Best Places to Buy Pesto" featured in city magazines--this book should surely whet your intellectual appetite. Compiled by a British librarian, the work includes a wide variety of interesting and unusual facts (largest military library, oldest dental-school library, major libraries suffering fire or natural devastation, 14 major films that featured libraries, etc.). In addition the book contains many fascinating facts about books, periodicals, and bookstores. The author, a diligent researcher, combed through many of the major European libraries to collect all this information. Although he acknowledges his book has a disproportionate number of entries on the UK, other countries and continents are still well covered. One problem: the work would have been greatly enhanced with a list of consulted sources, which would have been especially useful in some entries for researchers pursuing more information. This work, combined with the "Librariana" section of the Whole Library Handbook 3: Current Data, Professional Advice, and Curiosa about Libraries and Library Services (2000), will certainly enlighten and entertain librarians about the enduring and remarkable history of our institutions. Donald Altschiller
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Features all the facts that one could possible need or want to know about libraries...accurate...good...a useful addition to the world of librariana" --Emerald

"This book should surely whet your intellectual appetite...a wide variety of interesting and unusual facts...fascinating...diligent research...will certainly enlighten and entertain" --Booklist RBB

Librarian and information consultant Godfrey Oswald lives in London. --Library Journal

"Library World Records has provided an important service." --Arba

"This fascinating second edition of Library World Records...celebrates all aspects of library life, and lists the various world records in an orderly index that only a librarian could create...more than simply a comprehensive list of records: it is woven together with a strong and poignant sense of library history." --London Clip --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (March 3, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078641619X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786416196
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,465,550 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

My career began as a librarian and information consultant working in London, France and Switzerland. I have a BSc from King's College London University and an MSc in Information Science from City University.

Outside my career interests I enjoy reading history books and international traveling. These two interests greatly aided me for the 2nd edition of my book Library World Records.

This book takes a historical and international look at books and libraries.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A special book for your bookshelf, November 8, 2003

By 

Gabriel Sheen (Oxford, England.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Library World Records (Paperback)

Make no mistake about this fact: We all love superlatives, everyone wants to know about the oldest, the best, the largest, the smallest, the most expensive, etc

But it has been a long time since anyone decided to do serious research on book and library superlatives.

The guys who gave us "The Guinness Book of World Records" somehow neglected the library and book world, so if someone asked: Where can we find the oldest books and manuscripts in the world? or What is the name of the largest and smallest books in the world? we would be left scratching our heads as until now there was no reliable record book covering such facts.

Enter: "Library World Records" I congratulate Mr Oswald for completing such a special book, 264 pages (plus 112 photograhs) of facts on books and libraries around the world. What I liked so much about this book is its international coverage, because thats what the book is all about: World Records about books and libraries.

So if I wanted to know about the biggest university library in Africa, the oldest public library in Asia, the first book to be printed in Europe, the biggest bookstores in Brazil, or the most expensive book sold in the U.S., I only have to look it up in the index pages of "Library World Records"

"Library World Records" is also an invaluable reference book for researchers and students because the book also has an academic value, blending fascinating trivia and with well written facts tracing the history of books and libraries over time, and bringing out the book in paperback format is a good idea.

Because the book is the first of its kind in the world to be published, it will be a good idea if the publishers considered versions in Chinese and Spanish or French to allow non-English fans of books to enjoy the "Library World Records" too.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book on facts about libraries and books, April 10, 2004

By 

Peter Anderson (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Library World Records (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this well written reference book about libraries and books.

The author uses exhaustively research throughout to present fascinating superlatives. We displayed a copy in our library and already it has been stolen. Recommend that libraians keep a watch on thier on copies!

The author's has done a great job compiling the book. Because the book is easy to read and follow, it well also appeal to high school kids.