Full Description
What is the name of oldest public libraries in all of the different continents of the world? In what year was the first CD-ROM book released? In what years were the first books printed in French, Thai, Japanese, Arabic and Turkish printed? What are the name of the oldest extant texts or inscriptions written in Chinese, English, Russian, and Spanish? When was the first major computer database used in libraries? What is the title of the largest and smallest and most expensive books ever published? Where in the world is the world's busiest public library? Which famous horror fiction writer worked in a library? What are the names of the very first three books to contain photographs? Where are the tallest bookstores and library buildings in the world?This updated and expanded edition provides over 500 fascinating facts about libraries, periodicals, books and reference databases. The new book is not just a book about library and book comparisons, it is a remarkable story of libraries and books from the earliest times to the present. It is best described as a Guinness Book of Records for libraries and books.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments xv
Foreword to the Third Edition 1 (2)
Joyce N. Church
Introduction 3 (2)
How to Use This Book 5 (2)
World Records for National Libraries
1 Fifteen Oldest National Libraries 7 (6)
2 Oldest National Libraries in Africa 13 (1)
3 Oldest National Libraries in the Americas 13 (1)
4 Oldest National Libraries in Asia 13 (1)
5 Oldest National Libraries in the Middle East 13 (1)
6 Largest National Libraries with Over 10 14 (3)
Million Books
7 Five Largest National Libraries in Africa 17 (1)
and the Middle East
8 Ten Largest National Libraries in Asia 18 (1)
9 Ten Largest National Libraries in Europe 18 (1)
10 Five Largest National Libraries in Latin 19 (2)
America
World Records for Public and Subscription
Libraries
11 Fifteen Largest Public Libraries 21 (1)
12 Largest Public Libraries in the U.S. and 22 (1)
Canada
13 Largest Public Libraries in Africa and the 22 (2)
Middle East
14 Largest Public Libraries in Asia 24 (1)
15 Ten Largest Public Libraries in Europe 25 (5)
16 Largest Public Libraries in Latin America 30 (1)
and Caribbean Islands
17 Busiest Public Libraries 31 (1)
18 Busiest Public Library in Latin America 32 (1)
19 Busiest Public Library in Asia 32 (1)
20 Busiest Public Library in Europe 32 (1)
21 Public Libraries with the Largest Budgets 32 (1)
22 U.S. States with the Largest and Smallest 33 (1)
Library Budgets
23 Countries with the Largest Number of 33 (1)
Public Libraries
24 Five U.S. States with the Largest Number 34 (1)
of Public Libraries
25 Countries with the Largest and Smallest 34 (1)
Number of Public Libraries per Capita
26 Oldest Public Libraries in Africa and the 35 (1)
Middle East
27 Oldest Public Libraries in Asia 35 (1)
28 Oldest Public Libraries in Europe 36 (8)
29 Oldest Public Libraries in Latin America 44 (1)
30 Oldest Public Libraries in the U.S. and 44 (1)
Canada
31 Oldest Public Libraries in the Caribbean 45 (1)
Islands
32 First Public Library Commemorative Coins 45 (1)
of the Millennium
33 First Public Library Commemorative Postage 45 (2)
Stamp
World Records for University and Academic
Libraries
34 Twenty-One Largest University Libraries 47 (2)
35 Twenty-Six Largest University Libraries in 49 (1)
the U.S.
36 Ten Largest University Libraries in Europe 50 (3)
37 Ten Largest University Libraries in the 53 (3)
U.K.
38 Ten Largest University Libraries in France 56 (1)
39 Ten Largest University Libraries in Germany 57 (1)
40 Ten Largest University Libraries in Italy 57 (1)
41 Ten Largest University Libraries in 58 (1)
Austria and Switzerland
42 Eleven Largest University Libraries in 59 (1)
Spain and Portugal
43 Ten Largest University Libraries in 60 (1)
Scandinavia
44 Ten Largest University Libraries in 60 (1)
Belgium and The Netherlands
45 Three Largest University Libraries in 61 (1)
Ireland
46 Three Largest University Libraries in the 61 (1)
Vatican City
47 Five Largest University Libraries in 61 (1)
Greece and Turkey
48 Ten Largest University Libraries in Russia 62 (1)
49 Twenty-Five Largest University Libraries 62 (2)
in Eastern Europe
50 Ten Largest University Libraries in Canada 64 (1)
51 Ten Largest University Libraries in India 64 (1)
52 Ten Largest University Libraries in Japan 65 (1)
53 Ten Largest University Libraries in China 65 (1)
54 Ten Largest University Libraries in South 66 (1)
Korea
55 Ten Largest University Libraries in 66 (1)
Australia and New Zealand
56 Thirty Largest University Libraries in 66 (1)
Africa and the Middle East
57 Thirty Largest University Libraries in Asia 67 (2)
58 Twenty Largest University Libraries in 69 (2)
Latin America and Caribbean Islands
59 Largest University Libraries and Top 71 (1)
Universities: A Comparison
60 Earliest University Libraries in the World 72 (2)
61 Fifteen Oldest University Libraries in the 74 (2)
World
62 Earliest Academic Libraries in Europe 76 (1)
63 Ten Oldest University Libraries in Europe 77 (1)
64 Five Oldest University Libraries in the 78 (1)
U.K.
65 Five Oldest University Libraries in France 78 (2)
66 Five Oldest University Libraries in Germany 80 (1)
67 Five Oldest University Libraries in Spain 81 (1)
68 Ten Oldest University Libraries in Eastern 82 (1)
Europe
69 Fifteen Other Significant Early University 83 (2)
Libraries in Western Europe
70 Ten Oldest University Libraries in Africa 85 (1)
71 Fifteen Oldest University Libraries in the 86 (1)
Americas
72 Ten Oldest University Libraries in Asia 87 (1)
73 Ten Oldest University Libraries in the 87 (2)
Middle East
World Records for Specialty Libraries and
Archives
74 Ten Largest Medical and Nursing Libraries 89 (2)
75 Largest Medical Library in Asia 91 (1)
76 Largest Medical Library in Latin America 91 (1)
77 Largest Biomedical and Scientific 91 (1)
Periodicals Library
78 Oldest Dental and Medical School Libraries 91 (1)
79 Largest Pharmaceutical Libraries 92 (1)
80 Largest International Health Library 92 (1)
81 Largest Library in Europe on Deafness and 92 (1)
Hearing Loss
82 Largest Economics Library 92 (1)
83 Largest Geography and Geology Libraries 93 (1)
84 Largest Library in the Middle East Devoted 94 (1)
to Oil Exploration
85 Largest Engineering Libraries 94 (1)
86 Largest Genealogy Library 95 (1)
87 Largest Music Library 95 (1)
88 Largest Poetry Library 95 (1)
89 Largest Film and Television Library in 95 (2)
Europe
90 Largest Sound Archives 97 (1)
91 Largest Agriculture Libraries 97 (1)
92 Largest Botany and Zoology Library 97 (1)
93 Largest Science Library 98 (1)
94 Largest Military Libraries 98 (1)
95 Largest Prison Libraries 99 (1)
96 Largest Law Libraries 99 (1)
97 Largest Art Library 100(1)
98 Largest Libraries in Europe with 100(1)
Specialized Collections of Books on Africa
99 Largest Astronomy Library 101(1)
100 Largest Libraries in Europe Specializing 101(1)
in Education
101 Largest Social Sciences Library 101(1)
102 Largest Religious Libraries 102(1)
103 Largest Library in the U.K. Devoted to 103(1)
Women and Children
104 Largest Collection of Shakespeare's 103(1)
Printed Works
105 Oldest and Largest National Archives 104(1)
106 Oldest National Archives in the Americas 104(1)
107 Oldest National Archives in the Middle 105(1)
East
108 Oldest National Archives in Asia 105(1)
109 Oldest National Archives in Africa 105(1)
Miscellaneous World Records for Libraries
110 Thirty Major Libraries That Have Suffered 106(3)
Devastating Fires or Natural Disasters
111 Libraries with the Most Branches Worldwide 109(1)
112 Most Expensive Library 110(1)
113 Oldest and Largest Major Private Libraries 110(1)
114 Largest Chained Libraries 111(1)
115 Eight Unusual Things That Happened at 111(2)
Libraries
116 First Outer Space Library 113(1)
117 Largest Floating Library 113(1)
118 Largest Mobile Library 113(1)
119 Seventy Exciting Films That Featured 114(5)
Libraries
120 Some Notable People Who have Worked in 119(8)
Libraries or as Librarians
121 Fifty-Seven Translations of the Word 127(1)
"Library"
122 UNESCO World Heritage List and Libraries 128(1)
123 Earliest Libraries 128(8)
World Records for Books, Periodicals and
Bookstores
124 Ten Oldest Existing Written Works 136(19)
125 Earliest Written Works in German 155(3)
126 Earliest Written Works from Latin America 158(2)
127 Earliest Written Works in Arabic and 160(2)
Farsi (Persian)
128 Earliest Written Works in Japanese and 162(2)
Korean
129 Earliest Written Works in Italian 164(1)
130 Earliest Written Works in French 165(3)
131 Earliest Written Works in Spanish and 168(4)
Portuguese
132 Earliest Written Works in English, Welsh, 172(7)
Irish, and Scottish
133 Earliest Written Works in Dutch 179(1)
134 Earliest Written Works from Scandinavia 180(2)
135 Earliest Written Works from Turkey and 182(2)
Eastern Europe
136 Earliest Written Works from the 184(2)
Asia-Pacific Region
137 Earliest Written Works from Africa 186(4)
138 Oldest Existing Papyrus and Palm-Leaf 190(1)
Manuscripts
139 Oldest Existing Parchment Manuscript 190(1)
140 Oldest Existing Vellum Manuscript 191(1)
141 Oldest Written Works by Subject 191(5)
142 Oldest Existing Books Made from Paper 196(2)
143 First Block Printed Books 198(1)
144 First Book Printed with Movable Type 198(2)
145 First Books Printed in English 200(1)
146 First Books Printed in English in the U.K. 200(1)
147 First Books Printed in English in the 200(1)
U.S. and Canada
148 First Books Printed in French 201(1)
149 First Book Printed in Italian 201(1)
150 First Books Printed in Spanish, 201(1)
Portuguese and Basque
151 First Books Printed in Russian and 201(1)
Eastern European Languages
152 First Books Printed in Scandinavia 201(1)
153 First Book Printed in Irish and Scottish 202(1)
154 First Book Printed in Arabic 202(1)
155 First Books Printed in Turkish and Greek 202(1)
156 First Book Printed in Farsi 202(1)
157 First Book Printed in Hebrew 203(1)
158 First Books Printed in Hindi 203(1)
159 First Book Printed in Australia 203(1)
160 First Book Printed in Chinese 203(1)
161 First Books Printed in Japanese and Korean 203(1)
162 First Book Printed in Southeast Asia 204(1)
163 First Book Printed in Latin America 204(1)
164 First Book Printed in Africa 204(1)
165 Largest Collection of Books Printed 204(1)
Before 1501
166 Oldest Book Museum 205(1)
167 Six Earliest Dates in Copyright 205(1)
168 First Autobiography 206(1)
169 First Book to Use Page Numbers 206(1)
170 First Book with Illustrations (Not 206(1)
Photographs)
171 First Book to Use Photographs 206(1)
172 First Book Printed in Color 207(1)
173 First Book to be Published on Tape 207(1)
(Talking Book)
174 First Regular Newspapers 207(1)
175 First Printed Magazines 208(1)
176 First Scholarly or Academic Journal 208(1)
177 First Law Journals 208(1)
178 First Medical Journals 208(1)
179 First Weekly Business Journals 208(1)
180 First Library Journals 209(1)
181 First Paperbacks 209(1)
182 Earliest Professional Handbooks for 209(1)
Librarians
183 Largest General Reference Book in English 209(1)
184 Largest General Reference Book in French 210(1)
185 Largest General Reference Book in German 210(1)
186 Largest General Reference Book in Chinese 211(1)
187 Largest General Reference Book in Japanese 211(1)
188 Largest General Reference Book in Arabic 211(1)
189 Largest General Reference Book in Other 211(1)
Languages
190 Biggest, Heaviest and Smallest Books 212(2)
191 Books with the Most Pages 214(1)
192 Biggest and Heaviest Periodical 215(1)
193 Most Popular Author Among Library Users 215(1)
194 Most Widely Read Magazines and Newspapers 215(1)
195 First Book Blessed by the Pope 215(1)
196 Best Selling Books of All Time 216(1)
197 Most Translated Books 216(1)
198 First and Most Prolific Novelist 216(1)
199 First Author to Use a Typewriter 217(1)
200 First Major Computer Software for Book 217(1)
Publishing
201 Famous and Infamous People Who Wrote 217(1)
Bestselling Books in Prison
202 Most Severe Punishments Suffered by a 218(1)
Writer
203 Countries with the Largest Number of 218(1)
Books Published in More Than 10 Major
Languages
204 Largest National Book Expenditure 219(1)
205 Most Expensive Book Project 219(1)
206 Biggest Book Launches 219(1)
207 Thirty-Two Most Expensive Books and 220(5)
Manuscripts
208 Six Most Expensive Books That Could Be 225(1)
Bought from Bookstores
209 Most Overdue Library Book 225(1)
210 Biggest Book Fines 225(1)
211 Six Famous Stolen Books and Manuscripts 226(1)
212 Most Famous Persons Barred from Borrowing 227(1)
Books from a Famous Library
213 First Major Book-Burning Ritual 228(1)
214 Famous Government-Sanctioned Book Bans 229(1)
215 Oldest Bookstores 230(1)
216 Oldest Existing Bookstore in the Americas 230(1)
217 Oldest Existing Bookstores in Asia 230(1)
218 Oldest Existing Bookstores in Africa and 230(1)
the Middle East
219 First and Largest Book Clubs 230(1)
220 Largest Online Bookstore 231(1)
221 Largest Online Bookstore in Europe 231(1)
222 Largest Online Bookstore in Asia 231(1)
223 Largest Online Bookstore in Latin America 231(1)
224 Largest Online Bookstore in Africa 231(1)
225 Largest Online Bookstore in the Middle 232(1)
East
226 Largest and Tallest Bookstores 232(1)
227 Largest Bookstores Around the World 232(14)
228 Largest Publishers of Books 246(1)
229 Oldest Publishers of Books 247(1)
230 Largest Annual Book Fair 247(1)
231 Largest Annual Book Fairs in the U.S. and 248(1)
Canada
232 Largest Annual Book Fairs in Asia 248(1)
233 Largest Annual Book Fairs in Latin America 249(1)
234 Largest Annual Book Fairs in the Middle 249(1)
East
235 Largest Annual Book Fairs in Africa 249(2)
World Records for Library Buildings
236 Oldest Existing Library Buildings 251(1)
237 First Library Building to Use Extensive 252(1)
Electrical Lighting
238 Twelve Tallest Library Buildings 252(2)
239 Six Largest Library Buildings 254(1)
240 Six Largest University Library Buildings 254(1)
241 Eleven Largest Public Library Buildings 255(3)
242 Largest Scientific and Technical Library 258(1)
Building
243 Most Fascinating Library Buildings 258(1)
244 Ten Most Fascinating National Library 259(4)
Buildings
245 Ten Most Fascinating University/Academic 263(3)
Library Buildings
246 Twenty Most Fascinating Public Library 266(12)
Buildings
247 Twenty-Four Other Fascinating Library 278(10)
Buildings
World Records for Library Catalogs, Databases
and Technology
248 Oldest Library Classification Scheme 288(1)
249 Most Popular Library Cataloging Principles 288(1)
250 Largest National Union Library Catalogs 289(1)
251 Largest Union Library Catalogs in Europe 289(1)
252 Largest Union Library Catalog in the 290(1)
Americas
253 Largest Union Library Catalogs in Africa 290(1)
254 Largest Union Library Catalogs in Asia 290(1)
255 Largest Union Library Catalogs in the 291(1)
Middle East
256 Largest Unified International Library 291(1)
Catalog
257 First Computerized Catalog or OPAC 291(1)
258 First Library OPACs in the U.S. 292(1)
259 First Library OPAC in Europe 292(1)
260 First Library OPAC in Australia 292(1)
261 First Public Library OPAC in the U.K. 292(1)
262 First Library OPAC in Asia 293(1)
263 First Library OPAC in Africa 293(1)
264 First Companies to Develop Library OPACs 293(1)
265 First Library to Make Use of Microfilm 293(1)
266 First Major Library to Digitize a Large 294(1)
Portion of Its Collections
267 First Major Computer Database 294(1)
268 Largest Computer Database 294(1)
269 First and Largest Database Host 295(1)
270 Oldest and Largest Database Hosts in 295(1)
Europe
271 Oldest and Largest Database Hosts in Asia 296(1)
272 Oldest and Largest Database Hosts in 297(1)
Africa
273 First Database Host to Introduce 297(1)
Networked CD-ROM Access
274 First Indexing Service 297(1)
275 First Citation Indexes 297(1)
276 Largest Citation Index Database Service 297(1)
277 First Major KWIC Indexing Service 298(1)
278 First Table of Contents Database 298(1)
279 First and Largest Full-Text Databases 298(1)
280 Largest Commercially Available Microform 298(1)
Collection
281 Largest Electronic Information Services 299(1)
282 Largest Periodicals Directory Database 299(1)
283 Largest Databases with Electronic 300(2)
Journals and E-Books
284 First Major Reference Book on CD-ROM 302(1)
285 Oldest Electronic Newspaper Coverage 303(1)
286 Largest Producers of Newspapers Online 303(1)
and on CD-ROM
287 Largest Databases on the Latest Books 303(1)
Published in English
288 Largest Databases Covering Reviews of New 304(1)
Books in English
289 Largest Live Financial Information 304(1)
Services
290 Largest Business and Financial 304(1)
Information Databases
291 Largest Business Directory Database in 305(1)
the U.S. and Canada
292 Largest Databases on Businesses in Europe 305(1)
293 Largest Databases on Businesses in Asia 305(1)
294 Largest Databases on Businesses in Africa 306(1)
295 Largest Databases on Businesses in Latin 306(1)
America
296 Largest Databases on Economics and 306(1)
Business Management
297 Largest Collection of U.S. and Canadian 306(1)
Legal Databases
298 Largest Collection of European Legal 306(1)
Databases
299 Largest Collection of African Legal 307(1)
Databases
300 Largest Collection of Asian Legal 307(1)
Databases
301 Largest Collection of Middle Eastern 307(1)
Legal Databases
302 Largest Medical and Nursing Databases 307(1)
303 First and Largest Printed Medical 308(1)
Indexing Service
304 Largest Biomedical and Pharmaceutical 308(1)
Databases
305 Largest DNA and Molecular Biology 309(1)
Databases
306 Largest DNA Database for Forensic 309(1)
Investigations
307 Largest Agriculture, Animal Science and 309(1)
Botany Databases
308 Largest Biology Databases 310(1)
309 Largest Zoology and Microbiology Databases 310(1)
310 Largest STM Abstracting, Indexing and 310(1)
Citation Databases
311 Largest Chemistry Databases 310(1)
312 Largest Engineering Databases 311(1)
313 Largest Civil Engineering Databases 311(1)
314 Largest Electrical and Electronic 312(1)
Engineering Database
315 Largest Technical Standards Database 312(1)
316 Largest Geology Databases 312(1)
317 Largest Geography Databases 312(1)
318 Largest Petroleum Database 313(1)
319 Largest Astronomy Databases 313(1)
320 Largest Nuclear Physics Databases 313(1)
321 Largest Military and Weapons Databases 313(1)
322 Largest Movie Database 314(1)
323 Largest Literature, Music and Songs 314(1)
Database
324 Largest History Databases 315(1)
325 Largest Social Sciences and Sociology 315(1)
Databases
326 Largest Databases on Art and Architecture 315(1)
327 Largest Database in Psychology, Religion 316(1)
and Anthropology
328 Largest Genealogy Database 316(1)
329 Largest Academic Reference Databases 316(1)
330 Largest Doctoral Theses Database in 317(1)
Europe and North America
331 Largest Database on Government Policies 317(1)
and Politics
332 Largest Database on Pulp and Paper 317(1)
Industries
333 Largest Database on Mathematics and 318(1)
Computer Science
334 Largest Database on Education 318(1)
335 Largest Bibliographic Database on 318(1)
Transportation Information
336 Largest Air Travel Reservation Databases 318(1)
337 Largest Immigration Database 319(1)
338 Largest Fingerprint Database 319(1)
339 Largest Library and Information Science 319(1)
Abstracting and Indexing Service
340 First Commercial Information Brokerage 319(1)
341 Most Popular Stand-Alone Bibliographic 320(1)
Database Software
342 Largest Online Information Events in 320(1)
Europe
343 Largest Online Information Event in North 321(1)
America
344 Largest Online Information Event in Asia 322(1)
and Africa
345 Largest Digital Images Database 322(1)
346 Largest Patent Databases 322(1)
347 Largest Patent Databases in Europe 322(1)
348 Largest U.S. Patents Database 323(1)
349 Largest Database of Patents in Asia 323(1)
350 Largest Database on Trademarks 323(1)
351 Largest Database on Chemical and 323(1)
Pharmaceutical Patents
352 Most Popular CD-ROM Information Retrieval 324(1)
Software Used in Libraries to Access
Networked CD-ROM Databases
353 First Major CD-ROM Database Used in 324(1)
Libraries
354 Largest Search Engines 324(1)
355 Largest Archives of Web Pages and First 324(2)
Library Websites
356 Largest Library Document Supply and 326(1)
Inter-Lending Service
357 Largest Scientific Document Supply 326(1)
Services
358 Largest Library Network or Consortium 326(1)
359 Largest Providers of Subscription 327(1)
Services for Libraries
360 Oldest Providers of Subscription Services 327(1)
for Libraries
361 Largest Electronic Trading Services for 327(1)
Libraries in the U.K.
362 Twelve Greatest Inventions Used in 327(2)
Libraries Today
World Records for Library and Information
Science Organizations
363 First Library School 329(1)
364 Oldest Accredited Library School in North 329(1)
America
365 First Five University Library Schools in 329(1)
the U.S.
366 First Five University Library Schools in 330(1)
Europe
367 First University Library Schools in Asia 330(1)
and Africa
368 First University Library School in the 330(1)
Middle East
369 First University in the U.S. to Offer an 330(1)
Extensive Program in Information Science
370 First University in Europe to Offer an 331(1)
Extensive Program in Information Science
371 Top Fifteen U.S. Library Schools 332(1)
372 Largest National Library Association 332(1)
373 Largest and Oldest National Library 333(1)
Association in Europe
374 Oldest National Library Association in 333(1)
Africa
375 Oldest National Library Association in 333(1)
Asia
376 Oldest National Library Association in 333(1)
the Middle East
377 Largest National Information Science 333(1)
Association
378 Most Prestigious Award for Information 334(1)
Scientists
379 Famous First Full-Time Librarians 334(1)
380 Six Libraries with More Than 800 Staff 334(1)
Members and Their Annual Budgets
381 The 345 Largest and Most Important 335(7)
Libraries
382 The 160 Oldest Libraries 342(5)
Saint Jerome, the Librarian's Patron Saint 347(1)
The 30 Greatest Texts of All Time 348(1)
Bibliography 349(6)
Index 355
