(ACNS) The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams has praised the generosity of contributors to the ”˜Back-a-Book’ scheme, which encourages members of the public to sponsor the repair of books in Lambeth Palace Library, the principal library and record office for the history of the Church of England.
The Archbishop said: “Lambeth Palace Library has an unrivalled collection of books relating to the Church of England and the Anglican Communion. The Library greatly appreciates the generosity people are showing by participating in ”˜Back-a-Book’ to ensure that these books can be preserved for future generations”.
In 1996, 30,000 books from the recently closed Sion College Theological Library were moved to Lambeth Palace Library, almost 90% of which required essential repair from bomb and flood damage.
As a Librarian, I applaud this plan. It sounds a great way to involve the ‘stakeholders’ of the library with the reinvestment of historical capital that these books provide.
Bravo.
Jim Elliott <><
Just think of what the money spent on Lame-beth could have done for those books – probably more profitably, too! As it was, the money bought more CO2 and global warming, raised sea levels, and gave VGR a venue to be the center of the universe, but little else except assure the loss of the communion which once had been the beneficient of the knowledge in those books. Ah well, just digitize the things and get it over. (/sarcasm)
[i]Ah well, just digitize the things and get it over. [/i]
Which isn’t a bad idea, either. That way the collection will be available to a great many more people than can get to Lambeth Palace to study them in person.