Early libraries Library

tablet library of ashurbanipal containing part of epic of gilgamesh

the first libraries consisted of archives of earliest form of writing—the clay tablets in cuneiform script discovered in temple rooms in sumer, dating 2600 bc. these archives, consisted of records of commercial transactions or inventories, mark end of prehistory , start of history.

things same in government , temple records on papyrus of ancient egypt. earliest discovered private archives kept @ ugarit; besides correspondence , inventories, texts of myths may have been standardized practice-texts teaching new scribes. there evidence of libraries @ nippur 1900 bc , @ nineveh 700 bc showing library classification system.

over 30,000 clay tablets library of ashurbanipal have been discovered @ nineveh, providing modern scholars amazing wealth of mesopotamian literary, religious , administrative work. among findings enuma elish, known epic of creation, depicts traditional babylonian view of creation, epic of gilgamesh, large selection of omen texts including enuma anu enlil contained omens dealing moon, visibility, eclipses, , conjunction planets , fixed stars, sun, corona, spots, , eclipses, weather, namely lightning, thunder, , clouds, , planets , visibility, appearance, , stations , , astronomic/astrological texts, standard lists used scribes , scholars such word lists, bilingual vocabularies, lists of signs , synonyms, , lists of medical diagnoses.

the tablets stored in variety of containers such wooden boxes, woven baskets of reeds, or clay shelves. “libraries” cataloged using colophons, publisher’s imprint on spine of book, or in case tablet. colophons stated series name, title of tablet, , information scribe needed indicate. eventually, clay tablets organized subject , size. unfortunately, due limited bookshelf space, once more tablets added library, older ones removed, why tablets missing excavated cities in mesopotamia.

according legend, mythical philosopher laozi keeper of books in earliest library in china, belonged imperial zhou dynasty. also, evidence of catalogues found in destroyed ancient libraries illustrates presence of librarians.