in its original and proper sense, denotes a library or place for depositing books.

in matters of literature, denotes a treatise giving an account of all the writers on a certain subject; thus we have bibliothecas of theology, law, philosophy, &c.

There are likewise universal bibliothecas, which treat indifferently of all kinds of books; also select bibliothecas, which give account of none but authors of reputation.

Many of the bibliothecas agree, in most respects, with what are otherwise called memoirs or journals of literature, except that these last are confined to new books; but there are other bibliothecas, that differ in nothing from catalogues of the writers on certain subjects.