Public library

A public library is a library which is accessible by the public and is often operated by civil servants and funded from public sources.

Related Topics:
Library - Public - Civil servant

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Public libraries exist in most nations of the world and are considered an essential part of having an educated and literate population. Scottish-American businessman Andrew Carnegie donated the money for the building of thousands of Carnegie libraries in English-speaking countries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Related Topics:
Andrew Carnegie - Carnegie libraries - 19th - 20th

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In addition to books and periodicals, most public libraries today have a wide array of other media including CDs, software, video tapes, and DVDs, as well as facilities to access the Internet.

Related Topics:
Book - Periodical - CD - Software - Video tape - DVD - Internet

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Many public libraries around the world pay authors for having books in libraries. These are known as Public Lending Right programs.

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