Published in 1964 and 1966 and incorporating the earlier Origins of the English Library (1954), these 2 volumes were written by an authority on libraries from across the world, and the first director after World War 2 of the School of Librarianship at University College London, Raymond Irwin. Together they give an unparalleled insight into the development of libraries from classical civilization and the part they have played in the development of culture up to the late 20th Century. Studied from a new angle, and written in an engaging style, these volumes are far from dry and of interest to both bibliophiles and social historians alike.