National library facts for kids
Imagine a giant treasure chest filled with all the books, maps, music, and important papers from an entire country! That's pretty much what a national library is. It's a special library created to collect and keep everything ever published or created in a country or for its nation. These libraries are super important because they save a country's history, culture, and knowledge for future generations. Some national libraries focus on one main topic, while others are so big they need several buildings!
Exploring National Libraries Around the World
National libraries are found in almost every country, each with its own unique collections and history. They are often grand buildings that hold millions of items, from ancient manuscripts to modern digital files. Here's a list of some well-known national libraries from different parts of the world, listed in alphabetical order by country:
- National Library of Australia
- National Library of Azerbaijan
- British Library (United Kingdom)
- National Library of China
- Egyptian National Library and Archives
- Bibliothèque nationale de France (France)
- German National Library
- Iraq National Library and Archive
- National Diet Library (Japan)
- National Library of Greece
- National Library of India
- National Library of Indonesia
- National Library of Israel
- National Library of Malaysia
- Russian State Library
- National Library, Singapore
- National Library of Spain
- National Library and Documentation Services Board (Sri Lanka)
- Library of Congress (United States)
- United States National Library of Medicine
- Vatican Library (Vatican City)
Images for kids
-
The Lindisfarne Gospels is but one of the treasures collected by Sir Robert Cotton.
-
Sir Hans Sloane's collection of books and manuscripts was bequeathed to the British Museum.
-
Montagu House, seat of the British Library, founded in 1753.
-
As librarian of the Bibliothèque Mazarine, Jacques Auguste de Thou transformed it into the largest library in the world at the time.
-
The Załuski Library of Poland was taken by Russia after the country's partition, and the collection formed the nucleus of the Russian Imperial Public Library, established in 1795.
-
National Library of Finland, Helsinki
-
National Library of Australia as viewed from Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra.
-
Swedish Royal Library in Stockholm
-
The National Library of Venezuela in Caracas
See also
In Spanish: Biblioteca Nacional para niños
