Book rental service

Libraries have been lending books to the public for thousands of years. First libraries date back to 2600 BC during Sumerian civilization. In the modern era, most book loans are done by public libraries, which are operated by governments (mostly local governments). They offer book lending services free to their patrons and are generally funded through taxes and donations or by the state. Public libraries are accessible to the general public and are run by civil servants, state employees, or volunteers. Some of the largest libraries in the world include the Library of Congress in the United States of America and the British Library with millions of titles in their catalogs. Besides the public libraries, private libraries also provide lending services, and are usually run by individuals, associations, or by corporate organizations and universities. Private libraries usually require a subscription or membership to the library (paid or unpaid) and provide services specific to the organization, area or university.