library, n.Trivia

If you publish a book in Norway, the Norwegian government will purchase 1,000 copies-or 1,550 if a children's book-and distribute them to libraries around the country.

The Sacramento Public Library started a Library of Things earlier in 2016 which allowed patrons to check out, among other things, sewing machines and other items that patrons may find useful but may not need to own long term.

The massive ancient library of Ninevah (basically Mesopotamian equivalent of the library of Alexandria) was burnt by the Medes, but unlike a library containing organic documents, the fires treated the ~30,000 clay tablets and preserved the cuneiform texts

The Library of Alexandria grew to its size in part because all ships visiting the ancient city of Alexandria were obliged to surrender their books for immediate copying. The owners received a copy and the originals were placed in the Library.