national libraries
Countries' book repositories
National libraries are libraries maintained by a country's government to serve as the primary repository of the nation's published heritage.
They typically collect and preserve all significant publications produced in the country, often through legal deposit laws requiring publishers to submit copies.
National libraries also maintain extensive research collections and may coordinate library services nationwide: The Library of Congress functions as the national library of the United States, The British Library receives a copy of every book published in the UK.
- reading roomsSpaces designated for books
- rare booksUncommon valuable printed works
- first editionsOriginal printing runs
- card catalogIndexed library reference collection
- catalogOrdered list of items
collection · copyright law · archive · Alexandria · database systems · public libraries · national archives · lending policies · UNESCO · public access · open access · literary heritage · indigenous knowledge · oral histories · national identity · government documents · digitization · periodicals
national librariesmunicipal libraries
Government-run community book centers
city libraries · community libraries · county libraries · state libraries
national librariesschool libraries
Academic book lending facilities
private libraries · law libraries · medical libraries · university libraries · academic libraries