Dissertation Information for Philip John Weimerskirch NAME: - Philip John Weimerskirch
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science
SCHOOL:
- Columbia University (USA) (1977)
ADVISORS: - Phyllis Dain - Allen T. Hazen
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - Susan Otis Thompson - Terry Belanger - John Christian Larsen - Ray L. Trautman - Richard L. Darling
MPACT Status: Fully Complete
Title: ANTONIO PANIZZI'S ACQUISITIONS POLICIES FOR THE LIBRARY OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM
Abstract: Antonio Panizzi, the great librarian of the
British Museum during the early part of the
Victorian period, made numerous reforms in the administration of
the library and acquired a large number of books both old
and new. This study attempts to show what his book
selection policies were and how he carried them out in
practice. It is based largely on Panizzi's unpublished reports to
the trustees of the British Museum, hiscorrespondence
with book dealers, and certain Parliamentary Papers. Panizzi placed strong emphasis on collecting
materials which were not readily available to students
and scholars elsewhere in England. He gave first priority
to rare books, ephemera, costly and "voluminous"
publications, and he also purchased much of what was being published
in Europe and the United States as well as the more
important books published in other areas. His aim was to make the library of the
British Museum the greatest in the world, and although he
did not succeed in surpassig the bibliotheque Nationale in
size he certainly gave the British Museum one of
the tinest general research collections ever brought
together. When he became Keeper of Printed Sooks in 1837
the library had some 240,000 volumes, mostly acquired by
gift and bequest. Nineteen years later, when he became
director of the entire British Museum, the library contained more
than 530,000 volumes, many of those added having been
purchased. It has been said that in 1856 the library had
the greatest collection ot British and American books in
the world and tbe greatest collection ot books trom many
other countries outside the countries themselves. The collections which had been acquired
before 1837 were systematically developed under
Panizzi's guidance, and a substantial number of early printed
books, books with important manuscript notes, collections
of ballads, broadsides, chapbooKs and other similar
researcb materials were purcbased. Panizzi obtained a large increase 1n the
book budget and several special grants for purchases.
Through his reports to the trustees, his lobbying
efforts with a large circle of influential friends, and
especially by an extensive survey of the library's resources, be showed
what the needs of the library were, and be
enlisted the support of tbe trustees and the government in making
the library in manT ways the finest in existence. He set
the tone for the future growth o! the library, and his
policies have been followed essentially to this day.
| |
MPACT Scores for Philip John Weimerskirch A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:01:52
Advisors and Advisees Graph
generating graph, please reload |