Page:A Brief Outline of the Histories of Libraries.djvu/37



Bibliotheca and Libraria—''what do these words signify? The Kings of old had Libraries, especially those of Egypt.''

HE word bibliotheca is used to signify any one of three things: a place in which books are kept, a bookcase, or books themselves. The Greek word, bibliotheca, came into use among the Romans. They also used the word libraria; but it is more exact to understand by that word a shop where books are kept for sale. Collections of books, bibliothecae, date from the earliest days, and, if I am not mistaken, were established as soon as letters were invented. The art of writing must have arisen almost as soon as