ABSTRACT
Animal collections have existed since about 3000 B.C.; however, professional wildlife husbandry only began with the evolution of zoological parks in the early nineteenth century. This significantly increased during the second half of the twentieth century as the institutions, professional literature, and libraries matured together. Archives developed at a later and slower pace. Internationally, zoo and aquarium libraries and archives have progressed at varying rates in different countries depending on the profession's development in each country. Zoological park and aquarium libraries have services primarily concerned with the needs of their staffs. They have a specialized emphasis, reflecting the wildlife husbandry profession and its literature. As this body of literature grew, and the need for this literature became a essential part of the profession, libraries became increasingly important functions within zoos and aquariums. As these institutions grew older a sense of history encouraged them to establish archives and preserve their historic legacy.
