This comes from Thomas Herron:
From: "Thomas Herron" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sun, 18 Nov 2001 14:31:45 +0000
To the [Spenser] List:
I write to invite you to contribute your Spenser-related books and/or
offprints to the National Library of Ireland, who have expressed a great
interest in acquiring the same. The Library's policy is to collect all
publications relating to Irish subjects and authors (and authors residing in
Ireland) and it took little effort to convince them that their paltry
collection of Spenser criticism represents a large gap in their collection.
Granted, they have the first edition of James Nohrnberg's magnum opus but
additional knowledge will surely surface to fill the next millenium. As far
as I can tell (judging from memory, since their web-based catalogue is
difficult to access from afar) they even lack important editions of the
poetry. Although they have recently signed up to receive the SpR and SpSt I
don't know if they have the motivation or funds to acquire back issues,
although I have encouraged them to do so.
The library is housed in a magnificent Georgian building with a fine old
reading room and is located in downtown Dublin next to the National Museum.
They are entitled to a copy of all books published in Ireland and visitors
can access the ample holdings of Trinity College Library and the Royal Irish
Academy nearby. They have an original Ware edition of the View among their
key holdings (including many MSS). Due to a severe shortage of funds and
government and public neglect, however, the National Library has less than a
million items and remains the smallest such library in Europe... even
Tirana, Albania has more holdings. This despite the tremendous volume of
Irish-related literature over the centuries and millenia.
I understand that many libraries need more books and funds but surely this
is a special case and would help re-plant Spenser on his "home" soil.
Interested parties should contact and/or send material to:
Gerard Long
Book Acquisitions Librarian
National Library of Ireland
Kildare St.
Dublin 2
Ireland
Tel 00 353 1 603 02 00
Sincerely, Thomas Herron
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David Wilson-Okamura http://virgil.org [log in to unmask]
Macalester College Virgil Tradition: discussion, bibliography, &c.
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