Merton College Library: An Illustrated History

The Merton library is a medieval and early modern architectural and fittings treasure, with a remarkable and important collection of manuscripts and rare books. It has a history dating back to the thirteenth century and has multiple functions as a working college library, a unique resource for researchers, and a delight for curious visitors. This book explores its collections, buildings, readers, and staff across more than 700 years, with stunning color images depicting exceptional treasures and the library furnishings and decorations. It also features a timeline and a plan of the college, making it of interest to historians, alumni, and tourists alike.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 04 September 2020
Publisher: Bodleian Library

The Merton library, renowned for its antiquity, medieval and early modern architecture, and its remarkable collection of manuscripts and rare books, has a history that dates back to the thirteenth century. Originally established as a community of scholars, the library has undergone significant changes over the centuries, serving as a working college library, a unique resource for researchers, and a delight for curious visitors. However, in the nineteenth century, a plan to tear down the medieval library and replace it was narrowly frustrated. This brief history of Europe's oldest academic library explores the library's origins, collections, buildings, readers, and staff across more than 700 years. The story is told through stunning color images that depict exceptional treasures, as well as the library furnishings and decorations, and which show manuscripts, books, bindings, and artefacts of different periods in their changing contexts. Featuring a timeline and a plan of the college, this book will be of interest to historians, alumni, and tourists alike.

Weight: 476g
Dimension: 175 x 219 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781851245390