Books in the The Cambridge History of Libraries in Britain and Ireland 3 Volume Paperback Set series

The Cambridge History of Libraries in Britain and Ireland describes the development of libraries in Great Britain and Ireland over some 1500 years, and their role as a part of the social, intellectual and cultural history.

Since the mid-nineteenth century an unprecedented expansion of library activity has taken place. The essays in this volume present a picture of great diversity and focus on the place of the library within society and the growth of a professional structure to manage new demands on information.

This volume is a detailed survey of libraries in Britain and Ireland before 1640, covering both institutional and private libraries, large and small, the interplay between them and the uses to which they were put.