Rozwój metod opracowania polskich zbiorów rękopiśmiennych w świetle katalogów drukowanych

Abstract

The article analyses 91 manuscript catalogues of major scientific polish libraries that contain over 15000 manuscripts. An analysis of the article reference material provides an explicit and unambiguous account of catalogue creation, manuscript study and processing, construction of additional support apparatus as well as the nature of catalogue author introductions. Printed catalogues of manuscripts within scientific libraries usually begin with an author introduction (foreword) that epitomizes: the subject area, chronology of catalogue, details of library history including foundation and manuscript collection process. Frequently, the catalogue introduction is the main and sometimes only source of information regarding the history of the book collection and library itself. The most relevant section of the catalogue consists of a description of individual manuscripts. These contain the following: signature – formal description, description of manuscript content and additional library apparatus including index of names, index of places and items, ordered topographical index etc. The rules outlining the description of manuscript collections printed after 1955 can be found in “Wytyczne opracowania rękopisów bibliotek polskich” – B. Horodyski, H. Więckowska.