`The Index of Middle English Prose when completed will be a monumental achievement.' REVIEW OF ENGLISH STUDIES

Because of the unauthorized sale, loss, or deteriorating condition of parochial libraries in the 1930s and 1940s, a postal survey of surviving collections was undertaken which resulted in a detailed report and directory finally published under the general editorship of Neil Ker as The Parochial Libraries of the Church of England: Report of a Committee appointed by the Central Council for the Care of Churches to Investigate the Number and Condition of Parochial Libraries belonging to the Church of England, with a Historical Introduction, Notes on Early Printed Books and their Care and an Alphabetical List of Parochial Libraries Past and Present, by Faith Press in 1959. This book is a thorough revision of that work and incorporates much of its apparatus while reflecting new discoveries and recent research. The Directory in particular has been greatly expanded to include libraries established up to c. 1900, and, especially, a broad sample of what have come to be known as desk-libraries, with one or more pre-1700 prescribed books. Many of the reports, documents, and tables, including the historical introduction, have been reprinted in this new edition, edited and modified to take account of new developments and findings. A Postscript, 2000 briefly outlines research in this field over the last 50 years or so, and there are a number of new lists and tables, one including statistical information. The index is a key to the whole book and should be especially consulted for references to former owners and donors and subject strengths.

In the preface, the author concedes that he is using a loose definition of the word 'medieval' because his research covers some time both before and after the strict definition. The book is divided into chapters of information about places, and then people and stories. There is a final chapter about the destruction of the medieval city.

This directory is a handy on-volume discovery tool that will allow readers to locate rare book and special collections in the British Isles. Fully updated since the second edition was published in 1997. this comprehensive and up-to-date guide encompasses collections held in libraries, archives, museums and private hands. The Directory: Provides a national overview of rare book and special collections for those interested in seeing quickly and easily what a library holds Directs researchers to the libraries most relevant for their research Assists libraries considering acquiring new special collections to assess the value of such collections beyond the institution,showing how they fit into a ‘unique and distinctive’ model. Each entry in the Directory provides background information on the library and its purpose, full contact details, the quantity of early printed books, information about particular subject and language strengths, information about unique works and important acquisitions, descriptions of named special collections and deposited collections. Readership: Researchers, academic liaison librarians and library managers.