Merton College Library marks 750th anniversary as one of Europe’s oldest academic libraries
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Apr 24
Merton College Library marks 750th anniversary as one of Europe’s oldest academic libraries
4 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Apr 24
The Oxford library, founded in 1276 by decree of the Archbishop of Canterbury, has operated continuously for 750 years.
Its medieval room, still in use by students, houses rare treasures like a 15th-century Canterbury Tales edition and the original 13th-century chest.
Historians debate the definition of 'oldest library,' but Merton’s enduring community, evolving from chained books to digitisation, highlights its unique legacy among global historic libraries.
From chained books to digital files, how does a 750-year-old library guard its treasures today?
How does the quest for the 'world's oldest library' obscure its true value?
What economic model allows a library to survive for over seven centuries?
Can you still study in the same medieval room used by scholars 700 years ago?
Did the ancient library at Merton College directly inspire J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth?
Did Merton's slow adoption of printed books hinder academic progress at Oxford?