Treasures of the University of Canterbury Library

Author: Chris Jones and Bronwyn Matthews

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The University of Canterbury in New Zealand is the guardian of a rich and varied inheritance, which is reflected in the diverse material held by its libraries. This unique book presents reflections on some of the distinctive and exceptional items in the University's keeping.

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Summary

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The University of Canterbury is the guardian of a rich and varied inheritance, which is reflected in the diverse material held by its libraries. These collections enable us to discover not only the history of Christchurch, the South Island of New Zealand's largest city, but also into the history of an emerging nation and the broader Pacific region. This book presents reflections on some of the distinctive and exceptional items in the University's keeping. Written by Canterbury academics and members of the wider community, it considers material ranging from medieval European manuscripts to Maori whakapapa books. The items surveyed vary from an original printing of the 1611 King James Bible, to the papers of Karl Popper and the Pacific Leprosy Foundation Archive. Together these tell many stories. They offer insights into the minds of kings, intellectuals, musicians, artists and explorers. They chart the development of a university and the building of a community. They are a history of the written word, but also of a settler society. Canterbury's treasures offer fascinating windows onto the past and occasion to reflect on the present; they highlight many of the opportunities for future research opening up in an increasingly digital age.

About the Author

Chris Jones is a senior lecturer in history at the University of Canterbury and the author of Eclipse of Empire?: Perceptions of the Western Empire and Its Rulers in Late-Medieval France. Bronwyn Matthews is the liaison librarian for special collections at the University of Canterbury. Jennifer Clement is a senior lecturer in English at the University of Canterbury.