Which Country Has the World’s Largest Library?

For centuries, libraries have been regarded as a repository of knowledge and culture, serving as an important institution for research and education. Among the millions of libraries around the world, the title “The World’s Largest Library” is often awarded to the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, USA.

Library of Congress: The Global Giant

The Library of Congress (LOC) is widely known as the largest library in the world, mainly due to the size of its catalog. In November 2021, it contains an amazing 173,731,463 items distributed over a bookcase of about 838 miles. Its Gargantuan series includes:

  • 41 million books and other prints
  • 4.1 million recordings
  • 15 million photos
  • 5.6 million maps
  • 75 million manuscripts.

The Library of Congress was founded in 1800 and is also the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. It is the library of Congress’s research and a depository of works covered by copyright received by publishers nationwide. It is worth noting that it adds about 12,000 projects every day through copyright submissions, ensuring its ever-expanding scale.

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How does it compare internationally?

Although the Library of Congress has the largest collection, several other outstanding runners-ups are:

  • The British Library, located in London and Boston Spa in the UK, has a collection size of approximately 170 million. It is known for its outstanding history and its huge archives.
  • Beijing’s National Library of China is the largest library in Asia, covering more than 37 million items, including scarce Chinese books.
  • Other major libraries are the National Library in Russia (47.2 million projects), the Library and Archives in Canada (54 million projects), and the Bibliothèque Nationale in France (40 million projects).

Why is the United States home to the largest library?

The Library of Congress’ record size is for several reasons:

  • Copyright Law: U.S. copyright law requires publishers to store copies of their works in libraries and maintain an ongoing supply of new works.
  • Diversified Collection: The library acquires books in more than 470 languages ​​to reflect its international characteristics.
  • National Importance: As a federal library, it has received substantial funding and support to preserve and increase its collection.

The United States has the largest library in the world – the Library of Congress, viewing it as the cornerstone of preserving global knowledge. Although libraries in other countries have huge collections, there is not a single library in terms of their size and scope. This historic institution is not only a repository of researchers, but also a reflection of human determination to ensure knowledge is safe for future generations.