What is the definition of a national library?
A national library is a library founded by the government, with the primary duty of cataloging and preserving the works and information of its designated country, both inside its own nation and on a global scale. Often a national library will house well established works, original manuscripts, historical documents, and much more. Unlike public libraries, national libraries do not often loan books or circulate materials–rather they are a home of information and can often be the scene of exhibitions and events.

What is the overall purpose of a national library and how do they function?
A national library’s main focus is to represent the information and preserve the history of its country, while remaining accessible to its citizens and international visitors. Many national libraries have reading rooms and research centers that can be used by academics and the public, but more than anything they are a hub for safeguarding the materials that best represent the history of their country.

Our Blog’s mission:
On this blog we plan to summarize and present some of the largest and most successfully functioning national libraries from around the world, and dissect the ways in which they best represent each continent. Cultures and people differ widely around the world, but the overall purpose of a national library is the same: to provide access to the heritage of its country and the information of its people.