Archive and Library Theory and Management

In the first part of the course the different types of writing tools (stylus, reed, pen), writing surfaces (papyrus, parchment, paper) and the production techniques of each of them will be illustrated. Subsequently, the attention will shift to the medieval age and will be examined how to make (to fold) a quire, basic codicological unit, the preparation of the mise en page (pricking and ruling) up to the last phase of the binding of the codex. The second part of the course will be dedicated to the analysis of the main models of description of manuscripts; particularly, ICCU (Istituto Centrale del Catalogo Unico) standards and their individual items will be examined.

A basic knowledge of Latin Palaeography is considered helpful.

M. Maniaci, Archeologia del manoscritto. Metodi, problemi, bibliografia recente, Roma, Viella, 2002 (rist. 2005). M.L. Agati, Il libro manoscritto. Introduzione alla codicologia, Roma, «L’Erma» di Bretschneider, 2003, pp. 149-219 (or: new ed., Il libro manoscritto da Oriente a Occidente: per una codicologia comparata, Roma, «L’Erma» di Bretschneider, 2009, pp. 147-215). Guida a una descrizione uniforme dei manoscritti e al loro censimento, Roma, ICCU, 1990.

Course attendance is not mandatory but highly recommended. Non-attending students are strictly required to contact the teacher. Likewise, students who have already taken a Codicology exam must contact the teacher.

By the end of the course, the final evaluation will be based on an oral exam with an open-ended question. The exam will evaluate the full ownership of language; the full command of the scientific vocabulary used in the field; the ability to contextualise the different phases and techniques of making manuscript; the ability to recognize and apply the shared national cataloging standards. Attendance and active partecipation in the lessons will contribute to the overall evaluation. Grades will correspond to the evaluation of all of the above aspects.

The course will be structured in classroom lessons, enriched by some practical meetings to bring students closer to the materiality of the writing tools and surfaces as well as to the codex structure. Seminars of high profile experts or study trips will present particular subjects and/or specific cataloging experiences.