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Every year on August 9, the world pauses to celebrate the love for books. This is a day to find a great spot, grab your favorite book, and enjoy some good old-fashioned reading time. Enhance the experience with your favorite food or drink, making it a perfect moment for self-reflection and enjoyment of the written word.
Although the origin of this global celebration is enveloped in mystery, and it is unknown how or by whom it was initiated, the world, including the Schiller communities, pays homage to this brilliant event.
The book in society symbolizes the embodiment of the written word and the foundation for recording and archiving human knowledge. With the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century, followed by the advent of the computer and the internet in the 20th century, and most recently the rise of AI tools, the world of information is undergoing a significant revolution. Despite these advancements, the importance of the book in its non-digital format remains relevant, illustrating the history of many ancient and modern civilizations.
Several international libraries are renowned for their extensive collections of important ancient manuscripts and books. Some of the most notable ones include:
- The British Library (London, UK): Holds a vast collection of manuscripts, including the Magna Carta, the Lindisfarne Gospels, and the Codex Sinaiticus.
- The Vatican Library (Vatican City): Contains an extensive collection of ancient manuscripts, including the Codex Vaticanus and many early Christian texts.
- The Library of Congress (Washington, D.C., USA): Houses significant collections of historical documents and manuscripts from around the world.
- The National Library of France (Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris): Contains numerous medieval manuscripts and incunabula, including the original manuscripts of famous literary works.
- The Bodleian Libraries (Oxford, UK): One of the oldest libraries in Europe, holding a vast collection of manuscripts, including the Ashmole Manuscripts and the Gutenberg Bible.
- The New York Public Library (New York, USA): Holds important collections of rare books and manuscripts, including ancient texts from various cultures.
- The Berlin State Library (Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Germany): Contains a significant collection of manuscripts, including the Nibelungenlied and the Gutenburg Bible.
- The Russian State Library (Moscow, Russia): Houses an extensive collection of ancient Slavic manuscripts and other significant historical texts.
These libraries play a crucial role in preserving and providing access to the world’s cultural and historical heritage.
Regardless of your favorite literary genre—be it nonfiction, horror, historical, romance, science fiction, fantasy, comic books, short stories, plays, or poetry—on August 9th, take your favorite book to your favorite spot and enjoy some reading time. If you’d like, share your favorite book with us on our Instagram community page using the hashtags: #schillerinternationaluniversitylibrary, #siulibrary & #schillerinternationaluniversity.
We’re excited to announce that in 2023, the Schiller International Library Department acquired a new database: Infobase Academic e-Book Collection. This resource includes over 800 classic titles and is available to all active students on our SIU Digital Library page in Blackboard. You might discover something intriguing in there to read on August 9th!
If you need any assistance, please reach out to your Global Librarian or Campus Librarians.
Let’s continue to enjoy our books and celebrate our love for the written word!
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