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The earliest libraries can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt and China. In Mesopotamia, there was a library called Nip Library in the ancient city of Urzhong, which preserved many important documents and cultural relics.

In ancient Egypt, during the reign of Ramses II, many libraries were built, the most famous of which was the Alexandria Library. Alexandria Library became one of the largest libraries in the ancient world, with a large collection of Greek literature and other cultural relics, which had a far-reaching impact on the later library construction.

Ancient China also had its own library tradition. As early as the Western Han Dynasty, Chang 'an established Imperial College, which was one of the earliest public libraries in ancient China, with a large collection of books and documents.

With the passage of time, the library construction in China has further developed and reached its peak in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and many famous libraries have been established, such as Daming Palace Library and Longquan Temple. These libraries have played an important role in preserving and inheriting the ancient culture and knowledge of China.

A library is an institution that provides books, materials and services for readers. It is usually used to collect, protect and provide various forms of books and other information resources to meet the learning, research and entertainment needs of readers. The main functions of the library include the following aspects:

1. Book collection and reading:

A library is a place where books, periodicals, newspapers, audio-visual products and electronic resources are collected and managed. Readers can borrow these resources in the library to enrich their knowledge and information reserves.

2. Reference:

There are information desks or professionals in the library. Readers can consult the resources and services of the library, seek relevant information and answer questions.

3. Academic support:

The library provides academic support for students, teachers and researchers, including guidance and training in literature retrieval, academic citations and research methods.

4. Reading promotion:

The library organizes various reading activities, such as reading sharing meetings, writers' lectures, reading recommendations, etc. To promote communication and sharing among readers and improve reading interest and quality.

5. Digital services:

With the advent of the digital age, libraries also provide digital resources and online services, and readers can obtain information through e-books, databases, network retrieval and so on.

In addition to the above-mentioned main functions, the library also undertakes important tasks such as cultural inheritance, knowledge popularization and social education. It is an open knowledge sharing platform, which provides a place for people from all walks of life to study, communicate and engage in cultural activities. The library plays an irreplaceable role in the development of individuals and society.