Director meets Pope Francis Heidelberg University Library at conference in the Vatican
From 14 to 16 November, Heidelberg University Library had the honour of taking part in the conference ‘Conservata et perlecta aliis tradere - Libraries in dialogue’, which was organised by the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana in Rome. Representatives from around 20 libraries and archives were invited, including the national libraries of Belgium, Brazil, Finland, France, Italy, Norway and South Africa, as well as the Harvard and Stanford University Libraries. Heidelberg University Library was the only library invited from Germany.
The conference focussed on current and future challenges for academic libraries such as collection management, digital technologies and communication strategies as well as cultural policy issues. Library Director Dr Jochen Apel presented the Heidelberg University Library's publication activities and infrastructure for digital editions under the title ‘Heidelberg University Library - Preserving cultural heritage by building digital infrastructures’.
The invitation from the Vatican is an expression of the long-standing partnership between Heidelberg University Library and the Vatican Library, which is characterised in particular by the digitisation of the Latin manuscripts of the Bibliotheca Palatina from 2010 to 2019. This major project, which was initiated by former library director Dr Veit Probst and largely financed by the Manfred Lautenschläger Foundation, is a prime example of the university library's international cooperation.
On the last day, Pope Francis invited the participants to an audience. In his address, the Pope emphasised the central social importance of libraries. They are not only guardians of cultural heritage, but also key players in the promotion of education, international understanding and peace. He encouraged libraries to showcase their treasures, to open up even more and to act as bridge builders in a world characterised by crises. After his speech, Pope Francis also greeted library director Dr Apel.
The exchange between the participating institutions is to be continued in the coming years.
