The Books and Libraries of the European Middle Ages

Iako srednji vijek obuhvaća jako veliki vremenski period, te je „bogat“ novim otkrićima i idejama, rad se bazira na jednom malom djelu kulture srednjega vijeka, knjižnoj kulturi. Knjižna kultura u srednjem vijeku cvijeta i želja za znanjem koju knjiga sadrži sve je veća. Iz tih razloga knjiga postaje „vodič“ naroda, te ljudi zbog svoje želje veliku pažnju pridaju knjizi. Knjigu među prvima posjeduju samostani koji su središta naobrazbe, proizvodnje i čuvanja knjiga. Unutar svojih zidova imaju skriptorije u kojima se knjigama pridaje velika pozornost. Knjiga se počinje detaljno ukrašavati (što postaje jako poznato, a činjenica toga je postojanje različitih načina uvezivanja i ukrašavanja knjiga) i čuvati. Zahvaljujući velikom trudu ilustratora, iluminatora, knjigoveža danas imamo jedne od najstarijih, najpoznatijih i najljepših knjiga; kao što su Codex aureus, Book of Durow, Book of Lindisfarne i Book of Kells. Jedna od najznačajnijih knjiga postaje Biblia pauperum, namijenjena onima manje povlaštenima. Kasnije, osim samostana, knjige se počinju čuvati i u kraljevskim knjižnicama koje su u početku zatvorene za javnost i njima se mogu koristiti samo povlašteni ljudi (plemići, svećenici, studenti bogatih mecena). Nastaju samostanske knjižnice, kaptolske, znamenite, sveučilišne, privatne knjižnice te Papinska knjižnica. U Europi, na početku, nastaju dva najvažnija samostana, prvi benediktinski samostan na Monte Cassinu i samostan Vivarium, a kasnije imamo i druge, ne manje važne, Fleury, Cluny, Corbie. Zbog sve većeg broja knjiga nastaje potreba za sustavom koji će olakšati pronalaženje knjiga, dati uvid u cjelokupni fond knjižnice; a iz te potrebe nastaju prvi kataložni listići i popisi knjiga. Kasnija borba i zalaganje za javnost knjižnica dovodi do knjižnica otvorenog tipa, ali i dalje se jako pazi na knjige, a iznošenje knjiga nije moguće (vežu se lancima za pultove kako bi se spriječile krađe) ili se „skupo plaća“ (osoba je dužna ostaviti neki osobni i vrijedan predmet koji bi mu bio vraćen nakon povratka knjige). Knjižnice srednjega vijeka, iako drugačijeg izgleda nego danas, preteča su knjižnica koje danas viđamo i poznajemo.Even though medieval agecaptivates large time period,and is „rich“ with new discoveries and ideas, my work is based on one little part of middle age culture, book culture. Book culture flourishes in medieval age and eager for knowledge which book contains becomes larger. From these reaseons book becomes „guide“ of people, and people give their attention to book more. Book was first kept by the monasteries which were centers for education, production of books and book keeping. Behind their walls they have scriptoriums in which books got lot of attention. Book gets more detailed decorated (it becomes very known, different binding types and book decorations are fact for that.) and preserved. Thanks to the great efforts of illustrators, illuminators, binders today we have one of the oldest, most beautiful and most famous books like Codex aureus, Book of Durow, Book of Lindisfarne, and Book of Kells. One of most significant books becomes Biblia pauperum, meant for those less fortunate. Later, besides monasteries, books are getting kept in royal libraries which were in beginning closed for public and could be used only by privileged people (nobles, priests, students of rich benefactors.). Monastery libraries, captol libraries , known libraries , university libraries, private and papal ones start to occur. In Europe at beginning occur two most important monasteries, first benedictine monastery at Monte Cassino and Vivarium monastery, later we get more but no less important ones like Fleury, Cluny, Corbie. Because of the evergrowing number of books there was a need for system by which there will be easier to track books, give insight in library fund, that need provided libraries with library cards and book lists. Later fights for library publicity leads to open type libraries, but still there is a lot of caution for books, and taking them out was impossible ( they were chained by the pults to be kept from stealing.) or its „paid very expensive“ (person gives item of value in exchange for book while they dont return it back to library). medieval age libraries, even though they appeared differently, are the predecessors of the libraries that we know and use today