In this paperbound reprint of a 2001 book, Casson (emeritus, classics, New York U.) chronicles the history of libraries from the storage of clay tablets in the ancient Near East to the Middle Ages. He examines the gathering of collections of writings, the means used to store them, the sponsorship of libraries by emperors and other notables, and the layout of library buildings. The text revolves around the period of the Roman Empire and the city of Rome. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR