Marco Palma

Marco Palma

Which audiences for manuscripts?

Manuscript collections and their curators are not accustomed to receive a general public. Up until yesterday it was a common and undisputed opinion that manuscripts were reserved for scholars. Nowadays everybody can look at a page or an illuminated initial sitting at home. So libraries have to decide whether their new task is to put the images of their treasures on the internet and go on admitting only scholars into the departments of manuscripts. According to a different choice they could reach a larger public by giving a wider information along with digital and accessible reproductions. And more people interested in manuscripts mean, with the future in mind, more public eager to study ancient books in the original. Are libraries ready for that?
 
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