Medieval manuscripts in the Netherlands on the web
The Hague, September 21 - Today all medieval manuscripts in the Netherlands are available on the website Medieval Manuscripts in Dutch Collections (MMDC), www.mmdc.nl. The website provides a portal to a database with short, uniform descriptions and photographs of all medieval manuscripts in the Netherlands, about 6000 items in all. Jos Biemans, Special Professor of Medieval Manuscript Studies launched the website today in the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, by making the first click on the homepage.
Medieval snapshot Medieval manuscripts provide a fascinating snapshot of the cultural and intellectual life of this period. Until now, information about these manuscripts and the related knowledge and expertise was dispersed, but MMDC brings all of this material together. MMDC has been set up by the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, the university libraries of Leiden, Amsterdam, Utrecht and Groningen, and the Atheneumbibliotheek Deventer and it is partly financed by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).
One website for all manuscripts MMDC is focussed on creating possibilities for progressive research based on medieval manuscripts, by building a database with uniform descriptions, digital images and links to facsimile editions and subject-specific websites. This way, all the disseminated information about medieval manuscripts in the Netherlands has been brought together and made available through one database. To benefit international use, all information is published in English.
Virtual platform The website also contains more information on medieval books in the Netherlands. This website will function as a virtual platform for researchers and students in palaeography, art history, philology and other fields. Visitors will find an overview of all Dutch institutions with medieval books, along with information on the history of the collections, contact information and procedures of requesting manuscripts. The website also contains digital versions of several key out-of-print books about medieval manuscripts and an illustrated overview of medieval script.
For questions you can contact Saskia van Bergen, project coordinator Parchment to Portal, tel.: 070-3140430, e-mail: saskia.vanbergen@kb.nl