Library of Alexandria
A legendary library founded around the 3rd century BC in ancient Alexandria, Egypt, said to have been the largest repository of knowledge in the ancient world. It is still often cited as a symbol of the attempt to gather the sum of human knowledge, but accounts differ on exactly when and how it was lost β it is generally believed to have declined gradually through a series of events, including fires.
Library of Congress
Located in Washington, D.C., it is considered one of the largest libraries in the world, holding an immense collection of books and materials. Originally established to support the legislative work of the U.S. Congress, it now functions as the de facto national library of the United States, broadly collecting and preserving materials from around the world.
British Library
The legal deposit library of the United Kingdom, located in London, holding many precious historical documents including a copy of the Magna Carta. Under the legal deposit system, it is required to receive copies of material published in the UK, so its collection continues to grow over time.
Vatican Apostolic Library
Considered one of the oldest libraries in the world, famous for holding numerous rare materials including medieval manuscripts. It preserves not only historical documents of the Catholic Church but also precious materials from various eras and regions, making it an important repository for historians and theologians.
Trinity College Library
Located in Dublin, Ireland, known for the beautiful "Long Room" and the Celtic manuscript known as the Book of Kells. The shelves of ancient books stretching up to a high ceiling have become a famous tourist attraction in their own right, frequently appearing in films and photographs and often ranked among the "most beautiful libraries in the world."
Bodleian Library
The main library of the University of Oxford in England, considered one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It holds an immense collection of books and historical documents accumulated over hundreds of years and continues to serve as a central facility for research and education at Oxford today.
Korea's National Library
The National Library of Korea is Korea's representative national library, tasked with collecting and preserving the nation's knowledge assets through the legal deposit of materials published domestically. While it does not have the long history of other famous overseas libraries, it plays the role of a national archive that systematically preserves Korean publications and records for future generations.