Content area
Brief Excerpt from Industry Overview Chapter:
Organizations in this industry provide library or archive services, maintaining collections of print and electronic documents (such as books, journals, newspapers, and music) and facilitating their use for informational, research, educational, or recreational purposes. Major libraries and archives include the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and the New York Public Library (all based in the US), as well as the British Library, Library Archives Canada, and the Russian State Library.
The world is home to more than 320,000 public libraries, according to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. About 75% of libraries are located in developing and transitioning countries. China has the most public libraries in the world, followed by Russia, India, Ukraine, and the US, according to the Online Computer Library Center Inc. (OCLC).
The US has about 120,000 libraries of various types, with almost 100,000 school libraries, according to Statista. The Library of Congress is the largest institution by volumes held, holding more than 34.5 million volumes, followed by the Boston Public Library with 19 million volumes.