Editing National library (section)

===Origins===
[[Image:LindisfarneFol27rIncipitMatt.jpg|thumb|200x200px|The [[Lindisfarne Gospels]] is but one of the treasures collected by [[Sir Robert Cotton, 1st Baronet, of Connington|Sir Robert Cotton]].]]
The first national libraries had their origins in the royal collections of the sovereign or some other supreme body of the state.

One of the first plans for a national library was devised by the English mathematician [[John Dee]], who in 1556 presented [[Mary I of England]] with a visionary plan for the preservation of old books, manuscripts and records and the founding of a national library, but his proposal was not taken up.<ref>Fell-Smith, Charlotte (1909) ''John Dee: 1527–1608''. London: Constable and Company [http://www.johndee.org/charlotte/ Available online]</ref>

In England, Sir [[Richard Bentley]]'s ''Proposal for Building a Royal Library'' published in 1694 stimulated renewed interest in the subject. [[Sir Robert Cotton, 1st Baronet, of Connington]], a wealthy [[antiquarian]], amassed the richest private collection of [[manuscript]]s in the world at the time and founded the [[Cotton Library]]. After the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]], many priceless and ancient manuscripts that had belonged to the monastic libraries began to be disseminated among various owners, many of whom were unaware of the cultural value of the manuscripts.  Sir Robert's genius was in finding, purchasing and preserving these ancient documents.<ref>[[John Aikin]]. ''The Lives of John Selden, Esq., and Archbishop Usher; With Notices of the Principal English Men of Letters with Whom They Were Connected''. 1812. p. 375.</ref> After his death his grandson donated the library to the nation as its first national library. This transfer established the formation of the British Library.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelprestype/manuscripts/cottonmss/cottonmss.html |title=Cotton Manuscripts |publisher=[[British Library]] |date=2003-11-30 |access-date=2014-07-22}}</ref><ref>'An Act for the better settling and preserving the Library kept in the House at Westminster called Cotton House in the Name and Family of the Cottons for the Benefit of the Publick [Chapter VII. Rot. Parl. 12 § 13 Gul. III. p. 1. n. 7.]', Statutes of the Realm: volume 7: 1695-1701 (1820), pp. 642–643. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=46991</ref>