In this remarkable story, Stuart A.P. Murray traces the elaborate history of the library from its very beginnings in the ancient libraries of Babylon and Alexandria to some of the greatest contemporary institutions - the Royal Society of London, the Newberry Library, the Smithsonian, and many others. Illustrated with 80 rich color photos, readers can follow the fascinating progress of the institution we now know today as the library. A rich textual and visual resource, "The Library" will delight patrons and library staff alike.