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The concept of a national library is a recent one in the developing countries. In the developed countries, national libraries have existed since at least the sixteenth century. By the nineteenth century, most countries in Europe had already established national libraries. The typical national library is meant to be the finest collection of books in the country, the national book archive, and a source of national pride. Although it is important for a national library in a developing country to collect the national literature, and any other literature pertaining to that country, it is also important for the library to collect a wide range of scholarly literature published in other countries.