Key research themes
1. How have historical processes of dissolution, dispersal, and translocation shaped library collections and the survival of manuscripts?
This research area investigates the impact of major political, religious, and social upheavals on the preservation, destruction, dispersal, and reconstitution of library collections and manuscripts. It matters because understanding these processes illuminates how cultural heritage has been lost, preserved, or transformed over time, providing insight into both historical information loss and the evolving functions and ownership of libraries.
2. What are the methodological approaches to understanding library catalogues, their political significance, and the nature of historical records in medieval and early modern libraries?
This theme focuses on the interpretation of library catalogues or booklists, archival documentation, and materiality to uncover administrative, political, and intellectual agendas of libraries in historical contexts. The significance lies in how these methodologies illuminate libraries’ self-representation strategies, the dynamics of knowledge management, and how archival texts function beyond simple inventories to convey institutional identity and power.
3. How do the histories of specific institutional libraries reflect broader cultural, intellectual, and political transformations from local to global contexts?
This research theme connects the evolution of notable libraries and their collections to the socio-political and cultural environments in which they operated. Understanding these case studies sheds light on how libraries adapt, serve communities, and embody broader intellectual currents and global influences over time.