Library: An Unquiet History
Through the ages, libraries have not only accumulatedand preserved but also shaped, inspired, and obliteratedknowledge. Now they are in crisis. Former rare books librarianand Harvard MetaLAB visionary Matthew Battles takes usfrom Boston to Baghdad, from classical scriptoria to medievalmonasteries...
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Through the ages, libraries have not only accumulatedand preserved but also shaped, inspired, and obliteratedknowledge. Now they are in crisis. Former rare books librarianand Harvard MetaLAB visionary Matthew Battles takes usfrom Boston to Baghdad, from classical scriptoria to medievalmonasteries and on to the Information Age, to explorehow libraries are built and how they
show less
Format: Paperback
ISBN:
9780393351453 (0393351459)
ASIN: 393351459
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Pages no: 272
Edition language: English
Category:
Non Fiction,
Writing,
History,
Academic,
Language,
Science,
Read For School,
Books About Books,
Adult,
Library Science,
Microhistory,
Librarianship
An interesting short history of the idea of the library. Quite superficial really but a fun read. Special emphasis on destuction of books and libraries.
I think Battles would be the guy in the office party (probably a spouse) who corners everyone who stands still so he can lecture at them. He's from the local university, and he sincerely thinks you're interested. You wish you were because the topic is interesting enough and you have plenty of things...
I don't know much about the history of libraries, but this felt like a good overview. The focus is on Western libraries, but I also learned about Eastern libraries. I had no idea that the China had the precursor to the printing press long before Gutenberg. The book starts with ancient libraries...
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