Richard Ovenden

This book gives a history of libraries and archives that have been damaged or destroyed from ancient times to today. It is obviously not a complete history, but it tells the story of some of the most notable losses. It also reports on a couple of cases of personal papers or memoirs that were deliberately destroyed to prevent publication and/or protect reputations. Or in the case of governmental archives, to cover up the actions of colonial/government workers. The famous case of the Library of Alexandria is included. Although its destruction has variously been blamed on the Roman army, early Christians, and Muslims in the 7th century, Ovenden believes these are myths and that the library most likely disappeared due to slow decline, underfunding, and neglect.

A number of libraries were deliberately attacked and destroyed over the years, in attempts to suppress a religion or a specific culture. All the stories are heartbreaking to me, because of the loss of knowledge and history. And unfortunately it still continues today. Serbia's deliberate destruction of the National Library of Bosnia occurred only 30 years ago.

Ovenden also addresses the move to the digital world, and how much of current social discussion takes place online. He is greatly concerned about the loss of history for future research if what is online is not preserved. So much of it is currently under the control of a few large tech companies, whose purpose is to make money, not to preserve information for the future. Ovenden feels that libraries and archives need much better funding so that they can carry out the task of preserving this information for the future. At the end, he makes a plea to "the holders of power" to adequately fund libraries and archives.

I thought the book was interesting and very well written. Highly recommended.… (mere)

Ein grandioser Titel und die Lieblingsfarbe Orange auf Schwarz verwoben, mit Federkielen, die sich rundbiegen, auf die Erde drücken: diese Titelgestaltung hat mich bewogen, das Buch zu kaufen. Ein typisch bibliophiler Kauf.

Design also in der Bewertung: außerordentlich gelungen.

Der Inhalt ist für mich leider schwer lesbar, finde keinen Zugang.

20 Seiten Einleitung, ein sicheres Zeichen für eingeschränkte Lesbarkeit, über 100 Seiten Anhang, einige Beispiele. Nach einem Jahr bin ich immer noch nicht in diesem Buch angekommen, habe mir aber fest vorgenommen, Teile zu lesen.… (mere)