Libraries and Archives

A building whose own recorded description identifies its primary function as a library, a research archive or a comparable collection of books, manuscripts or records held for study and reference rather than for public exhibition. This group gathers national and university libraries, dedicated rare book and manuscript libraries, and archival repositories whose own defining first sentence states that function directly, distinguishing them from a museum or gallery built primarily to exhibit a collection to visitors, and from a school or college building whose library is only one room among many rather than the building's own defining purpose.