What are the titles of the largest and smallest books in the world? Which is the library with the largest budget? When were the first 10 university libraries in Asia founded? Where can one find the oldest surviving library building in the world? What are the names of the first three books to contain photographs? Where is the tallest bookstore and library building in the world? What are the names of the largest art libraries, history databases, engineering libraries, and geography databases? This updated and expanded edition provides answers to hundreds of new questions about libraries, periodicals, books, and reference databases. The book has more than 380 entries organized by national libraries; public and subscription libraries; university and academic libraries; specialty libraries and archives; books, periodicals, and bookstores; catalogs, databases, and technology; information science organizations; and library buildings.

Librarian and information consultant Godfrey Oswald is also the creator of "The Info Connect LIS Directory," the largest available alphabetical directory on the Internet for librarians. He lives in London, England.