Six Historic Libraries Worldwide Still Operating Today

• Al-Qarawiyyin Library, Morocco: Founded in 859 CE by Fatima al-Fihri, it's one of the oldest continuously functioning libraries, housing rare texts and ancient manuscripts.
• National Library of France, Paris: Tracing its origins to the 14th century, it's now one of the world's largest libraries with millions of items for researchers and the public.
• Bodleian Library, Oxford, England: Opened in 1602, this main research library of the University of Oxford is one of Europe's oldest, serving students and scholars with millions of books.
• Vatican Apostolic Library, Vatican City: Formally established in 1475, its collections are much older, containing rare manuscripts and documents crucial for global scholars.
• St Catherine’s Monastery Library, Sinai, Egypt: Founded between 527 and 565 CE, it's often considered the oldest continuously operating library, preserving early manuscripts and Christian texts.

Why It Matters: Ancient libraries like Al-Qarawiyyin and Bodleian continue to thrive, preserving knowledge for centuries.