[F]or both scholar and general reader, comprehensive bibliographic notes constitute a multilingual gold mine of historical resources on libraries.--Booklist As a history and an assessment of an inestimable resource and a force for good in the world,The Meaning of the Libraryis a timely and thought-provoking compilation.--Patricia Craig, Independent The Meaning of the Libraryis a riveting and deeply satisfying work that is bound to leave the reader not only far more aware of the sociocultural importance of the institution as a reservoir of heritage and learning, but also inspired to think of issues that lie beyond the earthly and temporal realm.--Lois C. Henderson, Bookpleasures.com A marvelous survey of Western libraries and books from Greek and Roman times to today... It is a lovely book, handsomely designed with endnotes, author bios, bibliography, index, and an eight-page, four-color insert-illustrations of ancient and medieval book cabinets.--Wally Wood, Bookpleasures.com These pleasant peregrinations exploring the role that libraries ... have played as preservers, proponents, and providers of culture will appeal widely to library scholars and bibliophiles.--Choice This excellent volume, well produced and with an extensive bibliography, is not standard library history, but it is delightful reading, whether consumed as a whole or used to browse in. It should provide any library historians with new insights into their discipline and can be highly recommended.--Peter Hoare, Library & Information History Each essay is excellently written and researched; each new perspective illuminates a different fact in great and mind-expanding detail... Bibliophiles, especially, will love [The Meaning of the Library] as it focuses attention on the deeper importance book collections hold.--Gretchen Wagner, San Francisco Book Review A wonderfully informative, erudite and entertaining collection of essays.--Alberto Manguel, Times Literary Supplement
