The library of Leiden University is more than four hundred years old. Its significance for European culture can hardly be overestimated: it is a part of a small number of cultural centres that gave direction to the development and spread of knowledge during the Enlightenment. The importance of these centres lies in the simultaneous presence of a unique collection of exeptional sources and scholars. Leiden University had both at its disposal. This is an richly illustrated English survey of the first complete, all encompassing study on the library of Leiden University: from its very first book (the Polyglot-bible printed by Plantijn) to the present, partly digital collection of over two million volumes.

2004 112 pag., 90 ill., 80 in kleur/fc (pb)
ISBN: 978-90-5997-005-2