01 July 2011

Elsevier Heritage Collection goes digital

Elsevier launches online catalog of 16th- to 18th-century books

Rare books from the Elzevier publishing house — including works by Galileo and Descartes — are a valuable resource for scholars

New York, July 5th 2011 - The Elsevier Heritage Collection comprises over 2000 rare books with more than 1,100 distinct titles published by the Elzevier publishing house from 1580 to 1712. Now Elsevier’s Corporate Relations team has made it searchable to scholars around the world.

The online short-title scholarly catalogue was created with the expertise of curatorial consultant and digital librarian Donna Sy. Nearly 2,000 documentary photographs will accompany the online catalogue, illustrating the beauty and fine craftsmanship of many of the book bindings in the collection.

To celebrate the launch of the online catalog and digital exhibition of highlights from the collection, Corporate Relations held a presentation in Amsterdam on May 27.

Quotes

  • It has been a privilege to work with the Elsevier Heritage Collection. When we first created a catalog for local use in 2009, our hope was that we would eventually be able to bring it online, and that day has finally come. Since every book in the Collection is in many aspects unique, I hope that the online catalog will serve as a starting point for scholars to make exciting new discoveries in the Collection

    Donna Sy, curatorial consultant and digital librarian

  • As the stewards of the Elsevier Heritage Collection, it is our obligation and pleasure to ensure that the Collection can be fully appreciated and readily accessible for scholars to research. The Collection represents a tangible connection to a great publishing past and reminds us of the partnerships forged by publishers with the great minds of the Renaissance

    David Ruth, Senior Vice President of Elsevier Global Communications

  • Throughout our efforts to make the Elsevier Heritage Collection more visible and accessible, I have been really amazed at the interest shown by colleagues and not just those based in Amsterdam. Clearly it is not just a dusty collection of books, but relevant to all of us in understanding our company history and branding. And of course the old vellum bindings and ornate illustrations are incredibly beautiful

    Ylann Schemm, Elsevier Corporate Relations Manager

It has been a privilege to work with the Elsevier Heritage Collection. When we first created a catalog for local use in 2009, our hope was that we would eventually be able to bring it online, and that day has finally come. Since every book in the Collection is in many aspects unique, I hope that the online catalog will serve as a starting point for scholars to make exciting new discoveries in the Collection

Donna Sy, curatorial consultant and digital librarian

As the stewards of the Elsevier Heritage Collection, it is our obligation and pleasure to ensure that the Collection can be fully appreciated and readily accessible for scholars to research. The Collection represents a tangible connection to a great publishing past and reminds us of the partnerships forged by publishers with the great minds of the Renaissance

David Ruth, Senior Vice President of Elsevier Global Communications

Throughout our efforts to make the Elsevier Heritage Collection more visible and accessible, I have been really amazed at the interest shown by colleagues and not just those based in Amsterdam. Clearly it is not just a dusty collection of books, but relevant to all of us in understanding our company history and branding. And of course the old vellum bindings and ornate illustrations are incredibly beautiful

Ylann Schemm, Elsevier Corporate Relations Manager