The library said to be the greatest of all ancient Egypt was that of Ramses II — the Ozymandias of Shelley’s poem. It was built and assembled as part of his burial complex, and may not have long outlasted his death. (Lerner, 2009; Quibell, 1896). It was not built for the living, let along for the public. Just an example of how most libraries, throughout human history, have been quite different than the present-day public library model.
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