The Heritage Room will feature an exhibit of the medieval material from the McHugh Family Special Collections. The Library has long held a collection of three complete manuscripts and seven books printed before 1500. These were traditionally called incunables, which translates loosely from Latin as books from the cradle of printing. During the past 25 years, Special Collections has added a few dozen manuscript leaves and fragments as well as facsimiles of medieval manuscripts. This exhibit will showcase the oldest and rarest material owned by the Library. The exhibit will run through December 12. On November 13 at 5:30 Prof. Michael Knies will speak on the production and use of medieval manuscripts and early printed books in the Heritage Room. Please contact Special Collections Librarian, Prof. Michael Knies at Michael.Knies@Scranton.edu or (570) 941-6341 for more information.
What a fascinating and beautifully articulated article! I truly appreciated how you brought to light the hidden journey of books—from hand-written medieval manuscripts to the printed volumes of the early modern era. Your discussion of how form, material, and cultural context evolve together not only deepened my appreciation for rare books but also reminded me that each book has a story beyond its words. Thank you for such a rich and illuminating read!