In the old days, books were the prerogative of the rich. The rulers of different countries sought to get rare items in their collections. This happened because the book is a source of knowledge and exclusive experience, which is transmitted through time from generation to generation. For such a purpose, a library has existed since ancient times.
The origin of the term "library"
From Greek, the word “library” is translated as “storage of manuscripts”. Now knowledge is contained in books, as well as in the form of cassettes with audio and video materials, projector files and electronic media. The first library in the history of mankind dates back to 2500 BC. The very concept of a library as a building did not exist at that time, but manuscripts, chronicles, and clay tablets were kept. To develop the structure of the library, clergymen were involved who were sufficiently educated to enumerate books and translate. The need for a census of books has disappeared over time. As literacy among the population grew, more and more interested people came to the walls of libraries to gain new knowledge or deepen existing knowledge.
Libraries in the present
In the modern world, the term “library plan structure” refers to both a physical building and a virtual place of information storage. Now many libraries are switching to electronic format. For use, you need only access to the Internet. On such sites you can find almost all of the world's literature, but to get some special sources of information you will need to go through a special entry.
Classification of the organizational structure of the library
This thesis includes libraries:
- family. Such libraries are available in almost every home and contain a home collection of selected books of a favorite genre;
- government funded by the government;
- private, when book fans themselves finance the contents of the library, as well as purchase new items, update existing books at their own expense and are independent of the state budget.
The operation of the data center
The structure of the library includes the following algorithm of actions. Those wishing to have access to literature must register with the institution. After the procedure, a person becomes a regular reader of the library and he is given a special library card to visit this library or admission to different city information repositories. After the reader is offered the literature that interests him. A person can take the book that interests him home for a certain period of time, which is set by the librarian. In this case, a mark is made in a special card indicating the dates of return to the library. If, for some reason, the reader has forgotten or lost the book, it is necessary to compensate financial damage, or to offer instead of the lost copy a book from a personal library or purchased at one’s own expense. But such incidents are handled differently depending on the structure of the library. Sometimes a book you like cannot be taken home because of its exceptional rarity or the time it was written: the older the book, the more carefully it should be treated. In this case, the reader is invited to visit the reading room, in which time will be allotted for acquaintance with the information on the territory of the library. Carrying a book outside the building is prohibited.
Information Center Divisions
The library has always been a storehouse of knowledge, and workers in this field strive to create the most comfortable conditions for visitors, developing the structure of the library. For example, in many buildings there are:
- Department of literature storage, a kind of archive. In such a room there are cards listing books available at a given time, and those that were previously with an indication of the reason that some of them were unavailable at a given time;
- foreign books. Of great interest to readers are not only the works of Russian authors, but also foreign ones, both in the scientific and in the artistic direction. A modern library can provide any book that interests the reader and any author, no matter what language the work is written in. In this department, the books are in the original and written in the language of the author. Therefore, the study of this literature will require the reader to have deep knowledge in a foreign language;
- the administration subsection includes the extension of the validity of a library card and is engaged in working with electronic resources. It also provides scanned versions of existing books that can be opened on a computer and other electronic media. And also in this department you can order a book that is not currently available in order to eventually receive the book in electronic form;
- reading room department. This room is equipped with everything necessary for reading literature that can not be taken to the house, as well as comfortable sofas, armchairs and good lighting. Also on the tables you can find note paper while reading;
- Department of the scientific reading room. The structure of the scientific library is characterized by a narrow specialization, since the common room is designed for people with different interests, while in the scientific room they study literature of a special orientation;
- historical unit. In the structure of the library, a separate room for historical literature is supposed. This department is rare and contains unique memorabilia, often in the original. Data is also stored on the inhabitants of the city, so people who are not indifferent to family history and who are interested in genealogy can be sent to this wing to find out information about their roots.
Forecast for the future
Many people believe that due to scientific and technological progress and the availability of technology, a library as a building will soon disappear as unnecessary. Some scholars support this view, while others disprove it. In any case, only time will tell which look was right. The only thing on which both sides agree is that the principle of the library will never disappear. Even if libraries can cease to exist in the physical manifestation, the type of this activity will definitely go into the virtual world. Information will be available and continue to be popularized in all segments of the population. After all, books have always been, are and will be best friends and guides of human thought.