Libraries and Librarians Trivia Quiz

Answer: Royal Library of Ashurbanipal

The collection of tablets comprised many great works. It held materials from a broad spectrum of types literature, including the "Epic of Gilgamesh." Virtually anything that could be recorded was collected and preserved by King Ashurbanipal who was very well educated.

Answer: Library of Alexandria

Also known as the Royal Library of Alexandria, this library was the largest of its kind in the world at the time. There are varying accounts describing its destruction. Carl Sagan said this about the library of Alexandria, "History is full of people who out of fear, or ignorance, or lust for power have destroyed knowledge of immeasurable value, which truly belongs to us all. We must not let it happen again."

Answer: Library of Constantinople

In one of the earliest examples of library collection preservation, Constantine the Great initiated the conversion of materials recorded on papyrus to the sturdier and more durable parchment. Nevertheless, fire destroyed the bulk of the collection.

Answer: Vatican Library

The Vatican Library's first librarian created a catalog of the library's holdings in 1481. The library was formally established in 1475 under the name of, "Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana." The fifteenth century was known as the "Age of Discovery."

Answer: United States

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, in terms of space and volume. It is the primary source of research requests by the United States Congress. The Library of Congress hosts a website as well as an online catalog of its holdings.

Answer: Yes

Even though it was many years after his heyday, Casanova spent the latter part of his life as a librarian for Count Waldstein of Bohemia. Jakub Mracek writes, "Casanova's job was to do some system in this huge library, but he did nothing. All the years in Duchcov, he only wrote his books and his correspondence."

Answer: Boston

The Boston Public Library became one of the first, if not the first library, of significant size to open its doors to the public. Any resident of the state of Massachusetts may borrow materials or conduct research at this library. This is inscribed on the wall of the main branch of the BPL, "The Commonwealth requires the education of the people as the safeguard of order and liberty."

Answer: Australia

Located in Canberra, Australia, this relatively new national library is the focal point for the preservation and gathering of Australia's culture. Many of the collections may be viewed online, including pictures, dance and music. "Pandora" is the name of the library's web archive.

Answer: Melvil Dewey

As library collections grew in size and scope, it became necessary to catalog and organize these collections in a systematic manner. In 1876, Melvil Dewey invented a method of library classification, known as the Dewey Decimal System or Dewey Decimal Classification. Dewey served as the head librarian for Columbia University for five years, and went on to become the director of the New York State Library until 1906.

Answer: New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is one of the most notable public libraries in the U.S. It has also been featured in films, television and literature. A collection of questions fielded by the NYPL reference desk was published in the early 1990s. It is entitled, "The New York Public Library Telephone Reference Service's Most Unusual and Entertaining Questions."

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. said this about public libraries, "So the America I loved still exists, if not in the White House or the Supreme Court or the Senate or the House of Representatives or the media. The America I love still exists at the front desks of our public libraries."