The concept of a library dates back to ancient civilizations, with evidence of libraries in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. In these early libraries, books were organized by subject and stored on shelves, making it easy for readers to access knowledge.
One of the earliest known examples of a comprehensive cataloging system was developed in ancient Rome during the 1st century AD. The Roman Library of Alexandria, built during the Ptolemaic dynasty, is considered one of the greatest libraries of the ancient world and was renowned for its vast collection of manuscripts.
In the Middle Ages, monasteries played a significant role in preserving knowledge and spreading literacy throughout Europe. Monks would copy manuscripts by hand, creating a system of interlocking codes that allowed books to be easily identified and shared.