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How did Lucius Licinius Lucullus make his library available to Roman readers?

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British Museum: Reading Room — library Reading Room of the British Museum, designed by Sidney Smirke in collaboration with Anthony Panizzi and built in the 1850s. Illustration by Smirke, from the *Illustrated London News*, 1857.

The Roman statesman and general Lucius Licinius Lucullus made his extensive collection of books available to the public by generously placing his private library at the disposal of those who were interested in using it.1

Acquired as war booty, the collection was highly regarded for its quality. The library served as a space for study and intellectual exchange; for instance, the orator Cicero famously visited the library to borrow books and encountered others, such as Cato, using the space to study philosophy. By opening his private collection to others, Lucullus contributed to a culture in ancient Rome where private libraries could serve as significant intellectual resources for the community.1