Facts and Concepts about the Library

Abstract

This article provides an introductory account of the library as a knowledge institution that extends beyond the traditional meaning of preserving printed books to include printed and electronic information resources and the means of making them available to researchers and readers. It explains basic concepts related to libraries, including the notions of the book, information, and the library’s field of activity, while outlining the diversity of information sources and access routes through books, people, media, newspapers, journals, and computers. The article also reviews several types of libraries according to place, subject coverage, size, and format, such as home, school, university, public, national, printed, and electronic libraries. It discusses the reasons for establishing libraries and their functions in serving researchers, students, and society, preserving scientific production, facilitating access to knowledge, and supporting cultural and intellectual development. The article concludes that a library is not merely a storehouse of books, but an organized system for preserving and retrieving facts and concepts when needed.