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I've visited that library. It's a high-ceiling architectural joy, but unless you're deeply, deeply into repetitive religious tracts of 600 years ago, most of th
by GCA10 1y ago
I've visited that library. It's a high-ceiling architectural joy, but unless you're deeply, deeply into repetitive religious tracts of 600 years ago, most of the collection is more of a curiosity than a valuable resource to modern scholars.
To answer @Amerzarak's question, the abbey is in a rural setting without an immediate surrounding community of researchers or urban resources. So, yes, no air-conditioning. The floors are polished; the ticket-takers are friendly, and the guides have a handful of stories that they tell well. For aesthetics, it would be nice if they can preserve everything. But in terms of scholarly impact, this wouldn't be on my list of the world's 1,000 historic collections most worth preserving in their entirety.
- Amezarak 1y agoThey have electricity though right? Then they’re not too rural to have AC?
- rzzzt 1y agoYou can't slap a window unit on World Heritage sites: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/758 https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/758
- GCA10 1y agoAh, if you've got the budget (and stature) of the U.S. Library of Congress, you can probably figure out how install all the necessary ductwork in a giant, multi-chambered old building that wasn't built with AC in mind. (Fun article is here about how they do it: https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/blog/librarys-hvac-aces https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/blog/librarys-hva...) But it's worth browsing pictures of the abbey to get a sense of how challenging this would be. https://www.comece.eu/christian-artworks-benedictine-archabbey-of-pannonhalma-hungary/ https://www.comece.eu/christian-artworks-benedictine-archabb... Most books reside in giant, wall-flush bookcases with no natural ventilation. Establishing decent airflow -- without accidentally ruining structural walls or turning the bookcases into perforated messes -- seems very hard.
- throw0101b 1y ago> […] install all the necessary ductwork in a giant, multi-chambered old building that wasn't built with AC in mind. You do not need to run ducts, just piping for (say) mini-splits.
- deepsun 1y agoOnly US is obsessed with ductwork. Most of the world prefers mini-splits.
- MisterTea 1y agoWe have mini splits too. It's just that many homes already have ducts. Also, a lot of people unfortunately find the indoor units unsightly.
- deepsun 1y agoYes, they are just not popular here. All new US houses are built with airducts as well, so it's not just old homes. By the way, I was always curious why installing splits _in_ the room. I understand multi-story apartments, where there's no other place. But if we're talking about detached houses you have an attic (where the airducts go), or a ceiling (where recessed lights go). Can we put splits in there? I can see problems with power delivery, condensate diversion, but they are the same if we install them _in_ the room. But in return you get fine-tuned climate control, and no pressure difference problems (no need for bypasses to prevent slamming doors with ducts).
- dmortin 1y ago> but unless you're deeply, deeply into repetitive religious tracts of 600 years ago, most of the collection is more of a curiosity than a valuable resource to modern scholars. It's an abbey, so they are probably into religious tracts and it has cultural and sentimental value to them. E.g. if it has a Bible from the 13th century then it's worth preserving even if it's just the usual stuff.
- mitthrowaway2 1y agoPotentially some of the books are also palimpsest, and perhaps if examined closely might have more ancient writings on them like lost Greek histories, poetry, or philosophy. I understand that the repurposing of paper was quite common back then.
- deleted 1y ago[deleted]
- palmotea 1y ago> I've visited that library. It's a high-ceiling architectural joy, but unless you're deeply, deeply into repetitive religious tracts of 600 years ago, most of the collection is more of a curiosity than a valuable resource to modern scholars. You know, there are modern scholars that study that stuff, both directly and as a resource for studying other areas.