Oftentimes, folks tend to think of librarians as being somewhat quaint, but actually, they’re arguably more relevant than ever before. Did you know that last year, more Americans visited a library than went to the cinema? Or that there are more public libraries in the US than McDonald’s? So clearly, there’s still a huge demand for these public spaces, where people can come together, use technology that they may be unable to afford for their home, and read books that further their education. Without a doubt, I consider libraries as a backbone of our society.


And it’s not just that these spaces provide books, entertainment, and access to the internet. They’re integral places for maintaining democracy. Indeed, librarians have been credited with helping to educate the public about a whole range of issues, including fake news. When we look into the role that these humble places play, it becomes clear that communities and the world at large would be much poorer, and much more vulnerable, if they did not exist. They’re the foundation of a healthy society.


Libraries aren’t just important today. In fact, they've been important for a significant portion of human history, both in the United States and across the world. Check out the below infographic that outlines some of the most important libraries to have ever been built. Some of these still exist; others have only been discovered following the efforts of excavation teams. There’s one library in this list that dates all the way back to 7th century BC!




Infographic Design by USC





 *This is a collaborative guest post.