"Reconstructing a Broken Book," ND Works, Vol. 11, No. 1, P. 1
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NHR ConsultantsD · Hammes Hub · Snite Apprentices · Licensing NVol. 11, No. 1 · July 25,D 2013 News for Notre Dame faculty and staff and their families Reconstructing a broken manuscriptbook on the market. And what began as an effort to preserve a medieval calendar turned into SARA WEBER an effort to reconstruct an entire manuscript from pages that had been spread all over the world. To date, the Hesburgh Library has acquired 86 of the 129 pages of the book, including 16 of 30 illuminated pages, from locations as far-flung as Japan, Germany, the Netherlands and California. The manuscript and its story are revealed in an exhibition curated by Gura, “Hour by Hour: Reconstructing a Medieval Breton Prayerbook,” on view in the Department of Special Collections Exhibition Room, 102 Hesburgh Library, in the West Concourse. The exhibition, which runs through Friday, Aug. 16, is open to the public 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The exhibition, Gura says, shows why it’s so important that these manuscripts be preserved. “There is Librarian gathers scattered are accessible to the public and sad fate, however. After the Sotheby’s manuscripts now meet this grim much that we can learn from them— used for teaching and research, by auction, the book made its end. Much of the market but there is much that has been lost leaves of a medieval both graduate and undergraduate way to Germany, where is among because they’ve been mutilated.” prayerbook students—a part of the University’s it was “broken”—cut amateurs This manuscript, the exhibition ‘unsurpassed undergraduate apart so the pages could who want notes tell us, “Is more than individual BY CAROL C. BRADLEY, NDWORKS education’ not available to be sold individually to a piece of leaves to hang on the wall or put in a undergraduates at most institutions. collectors. ‘medieval folder. It’s a historical and utilitarian The story of the University’s Gura took notice when a very Book breaking, art’ for their object, a piece of material culture. This acquisition of a number of leaves rare and unusual medieval Breton Gura notes, is all too wall. They book was used for private devotion from a 15th-century Breton Book calendar appeared on eBay. “We have common. Biblioclasts— are often and to ease the passing of a loved one; of Hours—the very few Breton book breakers—with unaware it was used to mark and calculate personal prayerbook TON manuscripts, and “a wanton disregard that their time in complex ways; it is a product of a medieval lady in S it was a great for cultural purchase of organized craftsmanship and a Brittany’s diocese of example,” he says. artifacts, funds an testament of regional artistic skill. Hour Vannes, in western While the library profit from unethical by hour, it was a part of someone’s life.” France, circa 1450— BARBARA JOHN rarely acquires their customer’s enterprise and really begins with single leaves, ignorance. A promotes the the auction of the the calendar was breaker can buy destruction book by Sotheby’s in acquired for use in a manuscript of of these cultural EXHIBITION London in 2011. theology professor average quality artifacts.” Through Friday, Aug. 16, view The book sold for Rev. Michael S. and, by selling Websites such the exhibition Hour by Hour: a modest price to an Driscoll’s class on individual pages, as eBay have Reconstructing a Medieval anonymous buyer, liturgical prayer, quadruple their expanded the says librarian David Gura where Gura taught investment.” customer base Breton Prayerbook” in the Gura, curator of students to read Such unethical sales exponentially— Hesburgh Library Department ancient and medieval manuscripts in the Latin manuscript and localize may make money, but and all of Special Collections Exhibi- the Hesburgh Library’s Department it—determine exactly where the book the book’s historical traces of the tion Room, Room 102 in the of Special Collections. was used, based on the saints, feast and research value is lost manuscripts West Concourse. Free and open Part of Gura’s job is acquiring days and other elements. forever. “They belong disappear with the auction listing. medieval manuscripts—and at Notre That the calendar was available on in institutions, where they can be Gura began to see more and to the public 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dame, he notes, such manuscripts the market reveals the prayerbook’s used,” Gura says. “Many medieval more leaves from the same rare Monday through Friday. Inside » ACE Bus Page 3 Licensing Page 4 Gettysburg Page 7 Basilica 125th Page 8 2 | NDWorks | July 25, 2013 Notre Dame ranks 35th in survey of best places to work in IT BY LENETTE voTava, OIT AYMOND The University ranked No. 35 R in IDG’s Computerworld 2013 Best JOE Places to Work in Information Technology survey, a ranking of the top 100 organizations that challenge their IT staffs while providing great benefits and compensation. Organizations were featured in the June 17 issue of Computerworld along with results from the 20th annual survey. The OIT staff “Over the last several years, we support all faculty, staff and students. new names have joined the stalwarts benefits, diversity, career develop- Computerworld is the leading have focused on our people. We The OIT’s vision is to enhance and that make the list year after year. It’s ment, training and retention. In source of technology news and have extraordinary staff and we sustain service excellence in five clear that the best IT workplaces are addition, Computerworld conducts information for IT influencers, continuously strive to help them key areas: teaching and learning, constantly raising the bar with great extensive surveys of IT workers, providing peer perspective, IT develop and find challenging research and scholarship, campus life, benefits, new learning opportunities, and their responses factor heavily in leadership and business results. opportunities on campus,” says Ron University operations and support access to cutting-edge technologies determining the rankings. Computerworld’s award-winning Kraemer, chief information and for Notre Dame’s Catholic mission. and challenging business-critical Notre Dame’s goals of providing website, publication, focused digital officer for Notre Dame. “I am To do this, they focus on delivering projects.” an unsurpassed undergraduate conference series, custom solutions extremely proud of our teams and value, driving innovation and The Best Places to Work in education, excellence in research and and custom research forms the hub that Notre Dame is committed to developing their staff. IT list is an annual ranking of operational excellence have brought of the world’s largest (40+ edition) embrace and advance a great work “We applaud the organizations the top 100 work environments a new focus on technology at the global IT media network and environment.” on the Best Places to Work in IT for technology professionals by University. As the technology world provides opportunities for Notre Dame’s Office of list for creating and sustaining IDG’s Computerworld. The list is changes, and the needs of campus IT solutions providers to engage Information Technologies (OIT) dynamic IT work environments,” compiled based on a comprehensive change, the OIT is dedicated to this audience. works collaboratively with other IT says Scot Finnie, editor in chief of questionnaire regarding company partnering with the campus and staff throughout the University to Computerworld. “This year, several offerings in categories such as finding the right solutions. FACULTY & STAFF Laura Carlson, associate dean in Group established by Burish has minimum of 500 survey responses the Center for Social Concerns, the Graduate School and professor of examined a wide array of possible over a six-month period. The the Center for Ethics & Culture, psychology, has been appointed vice initiatives and focused its report overall customer satisfaction ratings the Institute for Church Life, the president, on the creation of a School for were based on 12 months of data Department of Theology, the NEWS TON associate S International Affairs, which the to allow for accurate trending. Alliance for Catholic Education, provost and working group judged to have the Congratulations to the staff members Multicultural Student Programs and BRIEFS dean of the greatest transformative potential of these two OIT departments for Services, the Basilica of the Sacred Graduate ARBARA JOHN for the University. The group achieving excellence in customer Heart and more. B Browne APPOINTED VP School, recommended to Burish that he service. FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND and Rev. appoint an academic director to lead Hugh R. discussions with faculty, assess initial Holy CROSS HARVEST FOOD coMMUNIcaTIONS Page Jr., fundraising possibilities and explore Paul J. Browne, currently the dean of Carlson in depth topics such as curriculum, DRIVE THIS FALL the deputy commissioner of public First Year of Studies (FYS) staff and faculty hiring. The University’s annual Holy information for the New York program, has been appointed vice Appleby will remain director of Cross Harvest food drive, benefiting City Police Department, has been president and associate provost for the Kroc Institute until the current local food pantries, is moving to NDWorks appointed undergraduate affairs. search for a successor is complete. September. This will position the by President As associate dean of the Graduate drive during Hunger Awareness Rev. John School for the past four years, Month and avoid conflicts with other I. Jenkins, Carlson has focused on oversight campus drives. The upcoming drive ∞ June 20 C.S.C., to PHOTO PROVIDED and coordination of professional will be held from Monday, Sept. 9 Publication Dates the newly development, MORE through Friday, Sept. 27. If you’re elevated grants and HORE July 25 S a faculty member, staff member or post of vice fellowships, student interested in volunteering, pedagogical CA ATT NEWS president M contact Anne Kolaczyk, 631-8679 Aug.