As early as 3000 BC, there were various records carved on clay tablets in the temples of Babylon. The earliest collection sites were the collection sites of Greek temples and the collection sites attached to the Greek Philosophy Institute (4th century BC).

The earliest library-According to the excavation results of archaeologists, it is known that the earliest library in the world is Nineveh Library in Mesopotamia (Ashubeniba, king of Assyria, established it, so it is also called Ashubeniba Library). This is the most complete, largest and complete ancient civilization site library excavated today.

It was more than 400 years earlier than the famous Alexandria Library (the largest library in ancient times) in Egypt, and because of the particularity of mud-printed books, it was not destroyed by the war like Alexandria Library, and most of them were preserved.

Classification criteria for library types:

1, according to the library management system (affiliation). Such as: cultural system library, educational system library, scientific research system library, trade union system library, Communist Youth League system library, military system library, etc.

2. According to the collection scope of documents. Such as: comprehensive library, professional library, etc.

3. Divided by user groups. Such as: children's library, blind library, minority library, etc.

4, according to the book carrier division. Such as: traditional library, digital library, mobile library, real library, etc.

5. The main types of libraries in China are: national library, public library, school library, science library, professional library, technical library, trade union library, military library, children's library, blind library and minority library.