Historical Foundations of Library and Information Science

A library is an organized collection of resources made accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing. It provides physical or digital access to material, and may be a physical building or room, or a virtual space, or both. A library's collection can include books, periodicals, newspapers, manuscripts, films, maps, prints, documents, microform, CDs, cassettes, videotapes, DVDs, e-books, audiobooks, databases, and other formats. This book is an integrated treatment, intended to be read and discussed by library and information science students and professionals. It will enable the readers to gain knowledge of foundations of library and information science and the development of professional theory and practice. Contents: Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages • The Middle Ages • Professional Organizations • Academic Libraries • The Americas • Western Europe • Eastern Europe • Conference of Directors of National Libraries • International Library and Information Associations • Intergovernmental Organisations • State Responsibility for Library Service.