Books are like time machines. When we read the kinds of works produced by Aristotle, Einhard, Shakespeare, J.R.R. Tolkien, Mary Shelley, etc. we lift the veil of time and make contact with a past we will never truly know. This analogy deepens in meaning when the book itself– not just the text– is centuries old. Read More

Last Monday, Theology and Religious Studies Librarian Taras Zvir published a post describing the many books that Mullen Library was able to purchase with funds from a bequest of former Professor of Church History Msgr. Robert Trisco (1929-2023). Msgr. Trisco’s generous gift has enabled Taras to strengthen and bring up to date the library’s holdings Read More

Each year, the staff of Special Collections choose several items from the Rare Books collection to undergo conservation [1]. We prioritize rare or unique items that we believe are likely to be of broad academic interest and whose condition would otherwise make it difficult for researchers to consult them without causing further damage. The goal Read More

Photo credit: Rev. Msgr. Robert Trisco / The Catholic University of America Fiscal Year 2026 marks the first year in which the library has been able to utilize the generous gift of a devoted friend of the library, Rev. Msgr. Robert Trisco. In December 2020, Msgr. Trisco, Professor Emeritus of Church History, pledged $650,000 in Read More

Guest author Nicholas Brown, Ph.D. is a recent doctoral graduate from Catholic University’s Department of History and Anthropology. Most of us, when we think about libraries, imagine books. (Fair.) Catholic University’s Special Collections houses thousands of texts, ranging from Rare Books’ medieval manuscripts to the dissertations of former CUA doctoral students kept by Archives. But Read More

In a galaxy not so far, far away… It is a period of final exams. Across the campus, deadlines are approaching and focus is in high demand. As students rise to meet this challenge, the LIBRARY stands ready with extended hours, study spaces, and research support to guide their effort. Success is within reach…. Guidance, Read More

Imagine spending months carefully scanning century-old manuscripts, uploading every image to your institution’s repository, and breathing a sigh of relief, the collection is “preserved.” Then, a few years later, a platform migration scrambles the order of hundreds of images, backup files go missing, and metadata built with care disappears into a new platform. That is Read More

Interested in science news beyond what is reported in the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal? Or maybe you are a science major looking for job openings and tips on your post college career? You might want to check out the Science journal webpage!  The journal website consists of scientific news articles and Read More

“Preservation is documents and artifacts, recordings, digital media and all the tangible information that requires our professional advocacy and stewardship–the love and sweat of our labor. However, beyond all of that, most importantly, preservation is MEMORY and memory is the people and the communities who make them…” – Tamar Evangelestia-Dougherty, Preservation Week Honorary Chair Since Read More

Happy World Book and Copyright Day! This day is all about celebrating books and how books unite people from across a variety of backgrounds. Every year UNESCO selects a World Book Capital. This year UNESCO has selected Rabat in Morocco for this honor. Rabat was selected because of its dedication towards literary development, getting women Read More