Although Asia has a rich cultural heritage, with written records extending back some 4,000 years, libraries were slow to emerge in the region. Temples and centers of religious learning established most of the earliest Asian libraries that had sizeable collections. These institutions developed in the period that roughly corresponds to the European Middle Ages, from about the 5th century to the 15th century. At the same time, court libraries grew to coexist with religious libraries in most Asian countries. Use of these libraries was restricted to court officials or to religious leaders. It was not until the early 20th century that Asian libraries became accessible to a wide public, and for the most part, public library systems did not emerge until after World War II ended in 1945.
In general, Asian libraries have been slow to automate their operations, although many libraries in China, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan do have computerized systems. In the late 1990s most computer use in Asia was limited to microcomputer management of circulation. However, the public has access to online catalogs in increasing numbers of Asian libraries, particularly in documentation centers and national libraries. The high cost of international telephone lines and the slow delivery of documents from overseas have inhibited more rapid growth of online searching.

Travel is something which people do every day. It is very difficult to avoid the (26) to travel. It may be a trip to school, university or to work. Travelling can often take a long time, especially when great distances need to be covered. People often (27) travelling abroad for holidays. But for some people, travelling is not fun at all. Some people suffer from travel sickness. This means that they will (28) very unwell each time they travel.
Travelling can be either affordable or costly. It often depends on (29) far you want to travel and the choice of transport. People who need to travel short distances may choose not to use any transport at all. People often rely on their legs to take them to places nearby. This is often (30) as certain modes of transport have been said to produce harmful emissions and damage the environment.