Old English libraries

A concise survey of medieval book culture describes how manuscripts were made, illuminated, bound, catalogued, and circulated as instruments of learning. It outlines regional script styles and decorative practices, with attention to Irish-influenced round and pointed hands and intricate interlaced ornament found in Gospel books. The text considers practical media and working copies used for study, the organization and lending of monastic and collegiate collections, and methods of preservation and repair. One chapter, contributed by a collaborator, concentrates on the libraries associated with Oxford, while ample citations and notes point readers to further authorities.