Andrew Pettegree and Arthur der Weduwen on The Library: A Fragile History

May Daytime Program

We regularly draw on speakers from libraries to tell us wondrous tales about remarkable collections. But who tells the libraries’ stories?

Messrs. Pettegree and der Weduwen do, in their terrific book, The Library: A Fragile History (Basic Books, 2021). In it they address the real world challenges facing libraries … changing tastes, evolving media, architectural fashions, budget constraints, demanding donors, military conflicts, and more.

These engaging speakers will be joining us from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, whose library dates to 1612 and was founded by a gift from the family of King James VI. Much published, Andrew Pettegree is a professor of Modern History and the founding director of the Universal Short Title Catalog. Arthur der Weduwen is a writer, historian, and postdoctoral fellow who arrived at St. Andrews after stops in Amsterdam, Jerusalem, Nairobi and Exeter.

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Zoom presentation is free and open to all.

Advanced registration required via website.