The Library: An Illustrated History Book

For a true bibliophile, heaven on earth is either a library or bookstore (despite the modern technology of e-readers). Regardless of this love; most do not consider the history of libraries from conception to today. Stuart A.P. Murray addresses precisely this subject in, "The Library: An Illustrated History".

Murray begins "The Library" by tracking the creation of libraries from ancient times throughout the centuries and explains the growth across the world and its regions. Early on, the text is gripping and interesting while also being informative and academic. It can not be denied that Murray has collected an abundance of research on the topic.

The striking issue at this stage is Murray's tendency to weave off on tangents and jump back and forth chronologically. Sometimes, this eventually makes sense and Murray ties the discussions together; however, this isn't always the case. The result of such writing is that "The Library" slows in pace and slackens in impact.

Another negative apparent in "The Library" is repetition both in facts and ideas. It would appear that this is due to a lack of proper organization or perhaps even to a poor editor as it is clear that the topic is not lacking in resources. Murray worsens this by oftentimes not even discussing libraries but instead focusing on books and the advent of writing.

"The Library" strengthens once it begins to appeal to American readers by highlighting the foundation of library systems in the states and also following the movement of librarian education worldwide. Murray's style is more confident in this area making the topic more memorable.

The final section of "The Library" switches gears from library history and showcases the largest and most prestigious libraries in the world. Murray satisfies readers with a summary of each library's history and expands on such details as circulation and patron demographics while supplementing with photos. The text is compelling and informative but is not overwhelming; serving to excite the reader towards libraries.

Although "The Library" provides a solid list of books, periodicals, and websites available on the subject for further reading; Murray's sources used in his text appear to be predominately Wikipedia articles which is disappointing. It should be noted that "The Library" is glossy-paged and contains adequate illustrations making it a borderline coffee table book.

"The Library" isn't as strong as expected but it is a solid overview/look into the development and progression of libraries and reading. Despite some of its weaknesses, the text will excite readers interested in the topic and is suggested for bibliophiles and library-lovers of all ages.