Founded in 2011. Dedicated to library history and documental heritage.
Vilniaus universiteto leidykla / Vilnius University Press
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Collections of Memory Institutions: New Trends for Research
The publication features information on research done during the Bibliotheca Lituana project. In particular the focus is on collections of memory institutions, new perspectives on library and other memory institution, i.e. archives, museums, research. Modern library history has adopted relevant theoretical perspectives from social and cultural theory. Currently these perspectives incorporate not only the activities and collections of the aforementioned institutions but also the more widely interpreted information infrastructure, that do not have libraries as their main frame of reference. Problems faced publishing archival sources are also examined. It was determined that insufficient attention is given to research and publication of old catalogues, inventories and book listings. On the other hand a unified system and methodology for publishing of the aforementioned sources does not exist. We come to a conclusion that through new research paradigms, an interdisciplinary approach and change of thought in the archival, librarian and museology communities, we can start systematic research of libraries and other memory institutions. Their results would complement the pages of the continued Bibliotheca Lituana publications.
Paradigms of Library and Information Science in the Networked Society
Essential premises and problems of the Library and Information Science (LIS) paradigms’ shift (uncertainty of scientific boundaries and fragmentation; various historical, sociological and organizational conditions) are analyzed on the case of Vilnius University. Since 1949 Lithuanian university studies and research in the field of LIS had experienced few changes (periods of paradigm shift), that essentially had been preconditioned by general LIS and society’s development tendencies. The case of Vilnius University allows us detect humanitarian, sociological, informational and communicational paradigms. Their formation takes the background in the epistemological relations of LIS to the other sciences and in the necessity to solve practical problems of libraries as well as other information institutions. One of the major challenges that LIS has to face is the requirement to research complicated questions: information services to the society in general as well as individuals; information needs; work of information institutions. Multidimensional problems of LIS field require interdisciplinary view as well as methodological and theoretical transformations. Constant interaction of LIS with other science fosters interdisciplinary research fields and threatens the integrity of LIS on theoretical and methodological levels. Instability of LIS status displays itself not only in theoretical, but also in organizational aspects. Uncertain limits of LIS and tight relations with other sciences enforce dissociation or integration of academic units, while extensive amount of research tasks in LIS field is hardly being performed due to the lack of personnel.
Lithuanian Old Personal Library Research: Status Quo
The article analyzes the state of research on the old historical Lithuanian personal libraries, including the means of inquiry and sources. The author also analyzes the similarities between personal library research and institutional library research. It was found that book ownership marks are the main and most widely applicable personal library research source. This resource is used productively after Lithuanian scientific libraries have accelerated the scientific cataloging of the old books and started recording the provenance of each item (such catalogs include catalogs of the Elsevier, the Aldine, paleotypes, Bibliotheca Sapiehana by Vilnius University Library, Lituanica catalog by the Wroblewski Library of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, and the catalog of the 15th and 16th century books in Kaunas libraries by Kaunas County Public Library). The main and most widely applied Lithuanian historical personal library method is the provenance method, although good results are obtained using the hybrid method. The author concludes that most publications on old personal historic Lithuanian libraries limit their subjects to the personal libraries of nobility, state and religious actors (till the 19th Century) and the 19th century Lithuanian intellectuals. Historic personal libraries of lower-class individuals warrant more research (one example is Zigmantas Kiaupa’s publication about the book collections of ordinary old Kaunas’ citizens, published in 1985).
Guidelines for the Research of the Lithuanian Catholic Church Metrics Books
The metrics books of the Lithuanian Catholic Church are a heritage treasure of the whole nation. Up until the 20th century there were approximately 600 churches in Lithuania and each church had more than a dozen metrics books on average which means there could be up to 10 000–15 000 metrics books remaining in various archives. Due to the soviet occupation the church archives were damaged and metrics books were scattered to various unclear locations. Due to these unfortunate historical situation metrics books research has only begun and the books themselves are not yet fully catalogued. Some research on metrics books has been done by Zigmas Zinkevičius, Vitalija Macijauskienė, Jonas Palionis and others. Historians have shed some light on metrics book archives in various archives. It is clear that individual important research work has been done but an overall targeted research is lacking. A priority objective is to create a state wide data base of all catalogued metrics books. Second steps would be complex research of the metrics books including creation of a theoretical information base, creation of various data bases, use of the metrics books for localized research and etc. Successful research of metrics books is only possible if specific guidelines are followed. That is why this publication includes methodical instructions for researches to use when uncertain situations are encountered. The publication includes two cases of metrics books research. In the first example a couple of unique excerpts are presented with comments. The second one reconstructs the picture of the Suginčiai (Molėtai district) estate and town community during the 17th century. It includes residents of the estate, newlyweds, families and other persons). Philological notes on names are also included.
Manuscript Catalogs and Inventories of Books from the Lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania – Some Problems of Publishing Rules
Historians and publishers of historical sources have a lot of problems with the texts written in different languages and alphabets, which were created at different times, in the multilingual areas inhabited by many nations following different religions. The historians of book culture have the same problems with texts of inventories and catalogues of books, which are the primary source of knowledge about the content of libraries. At present it’s also important the historical texts to be published in the digital form. This article is a part of the discussion on this very important subject.
Parishes Registers and Lists of Parishes Residents in the Wróblewski Library of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences: Genesis and Confessional Singularity
The article treats baptismal, matrimonial and death parish registers in 17th–20th centuries, also lists of confirmees and lists of converts to Roman Catholic Church or Orthodox Church, lists of parishes and parishes’ residents of territories in Lithuania, Belarus, Poland and East Prussia. Manuscript materials used in article belong to various Christian and non-Christian confessions: Roman Catholic, orthodox, uniate, evangelical reformers, evangelical Lutheran, Karaite, Jew/Hebrew, Tartar. The article treats origin of parishes’ registers chronology, how parishes’ registers were written, and which information was in them also defines confessional singularity. Focus on 17th–18th century parishes registers – mostly Roman Catholic. Church parishes registers at first were started to write in Italy (1396) and in Provence. The Council of Trent of Roman Catholic Church in 1563 obligated fill in baptismal and matrimonial parish registers, ordinary “Rituale romanorum” in 1614 obligated to fill in death registers and lists of parishes residents. Filling of parishes registers in Roman Catholic and Protestant churches became overall in 17th century, in Orthodox and Uniate churches – in 18th century. The first information about parishes’ registers in Lithuania was introduced in visiting-round of Samogitia bishop in 1579, but the oldest known parish register is baptismal register of Joniškis church and it begins in 1599. The article treats evolution of parishes’ registers in Lithuania. Noticeable that death registers were started to fill only in 17th century and involved only part of departed.
Old Library Manuscript Catalogues in Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania
Library catalogue or inventory book is one of the most important sources for exploring its stock development, collection creation strategy, content of documents. Catalogue contains a lot of information about content of collections, quality and quantity aspects, and enables reconstruction of libraries which had been closed, dispersed or damaged by various disasters. Catalogues of old, especially non-operating libraries can also play role of reflections of scientific, cultural, social life of certain historical period, sometimes even of witnesses of the whole epoch. This historical source is very important for history of book and library. Their analysis can fill gaps in research of cultural communication of certain periods. Library catalogue is an information search system giving better orientation in the library to the reader, satisfaction of his informational needs and expectations. Exploring of library catalogue can be multiform depending on the subject and object of the exploration. Scientific researches of library catalogues are not popular; they are rather additional source of book history. The old catalogues give possibility to reconstruct traditions and culture of forming catalogues of that time, retrieve regulations and specifics of their forming. The article reveals content of catalogues of institutional, personal libraries of 19th-20th centuries preserved in the Rare Book and Manuscript Department of Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, their provenance attributes and physical features, making emphasis on Lithuanian books in these libraries. These are catalogues or lists of books owned of Samogitian Seminary, Ateitininkai Chapter established by Lithuanians who moved to Voronezh (Russia) during the 1st World War, The Januškevičiai (progenitors of the Dobužinskiai family), explorer of Lithuanian language Kazimieras Jaunius. These catalogues were selected from library catalogues of the National Library, because the institutions and persons mentioned were important for Lithuanian history and culture. Old library catalogues present evidence what important sources they can be for exploring of various historical stages of the country, historical and cultural heritage of various institutions, organizations or personalities, cultural and informational communication, distribution of a certain book, its popularity in libraries of various levels, culture and traditions of library catalogues forming during the certain time period.