medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear List Members,
The following e-mail is forwarded from the ANSAX List, and should be of true
relevance to all of us at Medieval Religion, not only considering the large
collection of theological texts (Medieval and otherwise), which are at stake
here.
As a member of the University of York, the Minster Library is one of my most
valuable library sources during my PhD, and personally one of the best, most
friendly, helpful and inspiring places to work at that I have come to know.
I can thus only stress Elizabeth Evenden's request for protest at its
closure, as no public effort has been made as yet on the side of the Minster
to find another solution. A strong international outcry will hopefully bring
the Chapter back discuss other possibilities. You will find e-mail addresses
of people that could be addressed at the end of the Forwarded e-mail.
Thank you in advance and best wishes,
Carolin Esser
FORWARDED MAIL:
On 22 May 2003 the Dean and Chapter of York Minster announced its decision
to close York Minster Library. The Minster has financial problems, but the
loss of the Library is a disaster for many reasons, not least for the loss
of access to its rare book collection. The rare book collection at York
Minster is excellent: it houses Archbishop Tobie Matthew's library
(including his manuscript annotations - a unique source), as well as many
brevaries, metrical psalm books, and a whole host of theological works
covering the whole spectrum of doctrinal debate for the early modern period.
In The Times newspaper on 23 May 2003 Canon Draper (Canon Theologian) was
quoted as saying that the Library was closing because it provided "a few
with access to material which can usually be found elsewhere." Any
bibliographist / book historian can say otherwise. Each book is unique,
aside from the manuscript annotations written within. I could not have
completed my work on the production of works by the printer John Day without
access to the Day books available in York. They provided essential insight
into stop presses, slip cancels, pagination and paper supply. Variations
occur across works and many of the Day works in York Minster provide a
unique insight into their production that could not be gained elsewhere.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE PETITION TO THE DEAN AND CHAPTER OF YORK and voice your
displeasure at the loss of such a library. Remember that the "snowball
effect" this could have is staggering, as it could prompt other cathedral
collections to be dispersed. Such libraries could be sold to the "highest
bidder" and so the collections dispersed (and lost to us academics!). York
has made no decision as to what to do with the colletion yet, so by
petitioning you might help make the Dean and Chapter see what a disaster
this would be for us all if it was broken up and sold to private buyers.
PLEASE HELP.
Please write to The Times newspaper at: [log in to unmask]
and to the Dean and Chapter of York. The new acting Dean as of yesterday is
Glyn Webster, and he can be contacted at: [log in to unmask], otherwise
the general e-mail there is: [log in to unmask]
The issue is now being raised in Parliament by York's MP, Hugh Bayley. You
can contact him at [log in to unmask]
>
PLEASE WRITE TO ANY OR ALL OF THE ABOVE AND HELP RAISE THE ISSUE.
Many thanks for your time.
>
Dr. Elizabeth Evenden.
>
From a later e-mail:
Further to my last mail, those of you who are being WONDERFUL and joining
our campaign, PLEASE send your complaints to Canon Draper as well (Canon
Theologian, whose comments are listed in the last mail I sent):
>
[log in to unmask]
>
Once again, many thanks for your time and support.
>
I have just been told that there may be a point of law preventing the Dean
and Chapter from dispersing the library so PLEASE PRESSURISE THEM. We need
as much support as possible and to give this as much publicity as possible.
>
>Regards,
>Dr. Liz Evenden.
>
--
Daniel Paul O'Donnell, PhD
Associate Professor of English
University of Lethbridge
Lethbridge AB T1K 3M4
Tel. (403) 329-2377
Fax. (403) 382-7191
E-mail <[log in to unmask]>
Home Page <http://people.uleth.ca/~daniel.odonnell/>
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