The Bodleian is seeking to raise £40,000 towards the conservation and digitisation of its treasured and rare manuscript and archive collections.
From papyri and medieval illuminated books to modern diaries, letters and journals, the Bodleian Libraries’ manuscript and archive collections are primary sources for understanding the past. But while the preservation of these precious materials is key to the libraries’ mission, it simply cannot be accomplished without additional support.
The scope of the Bodleian’s work in this area is huge: each year it conserves thousands of manuscripts, hosts increasing numbers of scholars seeking to carry out research on them, and displays them in around 15 different public exhibitions for more than 60,000 visitors.
‘We face a challenge,’ explains Richard Ovenden, Bodley’s Librarian. ‘The more these manuscripts and archives are accessed and researched, the greater the need for conservation so that they can be handled, both physically and digitally. We need to look after them in every way possible, from the day to day archiving of small documents in special acid-free boxes to the restoration of large items of great historical significance, such as the Selden Map of China or Jane Austen’s Volume the First.’
The money raised through the appeal will enable the Bodleian to meet this challenge head on. As well as funding essential conservation treatments – ensuring these rare and important manuscripts can be safely handled, studied and displayed – it will allow the Bodleian to improve its digitised collections and provide access to these rich resources for scholars and researchers working around the world.
‘We hope you will join us in this important endeavour,’ adds Richard. ‘This is a large task, but it is our first and fundamental duty towards Thomas Bodley’s “republic of scholarship” and the wider world.’