Manuscripts Expert Group

In September 2000, manuscript librarians from across Europe met in Stockholm at a conference to discuss recent developments in the field and to exchange information. Participating colleagues agreed to form an Expert Group of Manuscript Librarians under the auspices of LIBER (Collection Development Division). In July 2001 LIBER’s General Conference in London formally approved the Expert Group. Since 2014 the Group has been a part of The Consortium of European Research Libraries (CERL).

The Manuscript Librarians Working Group recognises the unique significance of manuscript and archive collections, not only for the world of research and learning, but also for a wider audience of people interested in history and cultural heritage. The primary aims of the Working Group are to act as a forum for curatorial concerns, and to enhance understanding and practical cooperation among curators across Europe, taking account of the differences in approach which have occurred historically.

The National Contact persons and the Board have one day meetings associated with the conferences organised by the Working Group. On the agenda are updates on the National Backgrounds, as well as discussions on best practice and new developments of interest, for example ISMI: International Standard. Manuscript Identifier.

The Manuscript Librarians Working Group aim to arrange a conference every second year. The conferences are open to everyone interested in the topics, and aim to be a place for networking and exchange of information for all working with manuscripts or special collections in libraries or other institutions.

• Eighth conference

Oslo, in the autumn of 2020, at the National Library of Norway

• Ninth conference

London, 2022, at the British Library

Details of previous meetings and conferences are available here.

Andreas Fingernagel, Direktor der Sammlung von Handschriften und alten Drucken, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Josefsplatz 1, 1015 Wien Tel: +43 1 534 10-290 — Fax: +43 1 534 10-296

Ann Kelders, Scientific Collaborator of the Manuscripts Department, Royal Library of Belgium, Keizerslaan 4, 1000 Brussels Tel: +32.2.519.57.88 — Fax: +32.2.519.57.95

Zdeněk Uhlíř, Coordinator of the Manuscriptorium Digital Library, National Library of the Czech Republic, Klementinum 190, 160 00 Praha 1. Tel. +420 221 663 23

Anders Toftgaard, The Royal Library, Søren Kierkegaards Plads 1, Copenhagen

Isabelle le Masne de Chermont - Conservateur en chef au Département des manuscrits, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, 58 rue de Richelieu, 75002 Paris, France Tel: +33 01 53798927

Dr. Jaakko Tahkokallio - Curator, National Library of Finland, Unioninkatu 36, Helsinki, Finland Tel: +358 504154419, +358 2941 22732

Robert Giel, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Potsdamer Str. 33, D - 10785 Berlin, Germany Tel: +49 30 266 435050, Fax: +49 30 335 001

Scot McKendrick, Head of Western Manuscripts, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB, UK Tel: +44 20 7412 7507, Fax: +44 20 7412 7787

Valentina Longo, Responsabile Collezioni Orientali, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, Viale Castro Pretorio 105, I - 00185 Roma, Italy Tel.: +39 06 4989295, fax: +39 06 4457635

Jolita Steponaitienė, Head of Rare Book and Manuscript Department, Martynas Mazvydas National Library of Lithuania, Gedimino ave. 51, LT-01504 Vilnius, Lithuania Tel: +370 5 239 8540 — Fax: +370 5 249 6129

André Bouwman, Curator of Western Manuscripts, Special Collections Division, Leiden University Library, 27 Witte Singel, P.O. Box 9501, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands Tel: +31 71 5272 853 — Fax: +31 71 527 2836

Bente Granrud, Head of Section, Manuscripts Department, The National Library of Norway, Henrik Ibsens gate 110, Oslo — Postal address P.O. Box 2674 Solli, NO-0203 Oslo, Norway Tel: +47 23276164 — Fax: +47 23 27 60 10

Agnieszka Fabiańska, Custodian at the Manuscript Division, Warsaw University Library, ul. Dobra 56/66, 00-312 Warsaw, Poland Tel: +48 22 55 25 902

Anna Gudayol, Cap de la Secció de Manuscrits, Biblioteca de Catalunya, Hospital 56, E-08001 Barcelona, Spain Tel: +34 93 270 2300, ext. 2184 — Fax +34 93 270 2304

Katinka Ahlbom, Physical Collections Department, National Library of Sweden, PO Box 24124, SE-104 51 Stockholm, Sweden Tel: +46 10 7093342

Dr. Florian Mittenhuber, Burgerbibliothek Bern, Münstergasse 63, Postfach CH-3000 Bern 8, Switzerland Tel: +41 31 320 33 61

Concise information country by country about the major manuscripts and archives collections, about the institutions where the collections are kept (website links, historical data, etc.) is available here.