Footprints of the Early Modern Book: Transnational Mobility between the Low Countries and the Baltic Sea Region
About the conference
On 25–27 November 2024, the National Library of Latvia is organising an international conference ‘Footprints of the Early Modern Book: Transnational Mobility between the Low Countries and the Baltic Sea Region’. The goal of the conference is to discuss the dynamics of social and geographical mobility reflected by the Early Modern book trade, printing equipment, and printed works, as well as the cross-border movement of knowledge, skills, and traditions. The influence of printers, booksellers, and libraries will be explored, uncovering the diverse voices and perspectives that shaped the book in the Early Modern Period.
Expert talks: international experts from Belgium, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden will present their findings on connections between the Baltic Sea region and the Low Countries in Early Modern book history.
Workshops: participants are invited to join our hands-on workshops with the replica of a 16th-century printing press, creating an interpretation of the works of Riga’s first printer.
Guided tours: we will be offering guided tours of the National Library of Latvia and the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation. Participants are welcome to visit the exhibition ‘Text is Not Our Type’ devoted to the materiality of the book.
Introduction to the Special Collections: in a joint session with the National Library of Lithuania we will introduce the Special Collections of both libraries, focusing on the Early Modern Period.
Conference Speakers
A world-renowned cultural historian of the Early Modern Period, Dr. Andrew Pettegree of the University of St. Andrews (UK), will deliver a keynote ‘Book History’s New Frontier and the Perils of Big Data’.
Researchers Kristof Selleslach (BE), Pierre Desaerdt (BE), Kaspar Kolk (EST), Beāte Orlova (LV), Peter Nieuwenhuizen (NL) will reflect on Early Modern book printing in Antwerp and Riga, highlighting the work of Nicolaus Mollyn.
Technological aspects of book printing will be the focus of presentations by Patrick Goossens (BE) and Artis Ērglis (LV).
Sophie Turner (EE), Ieva Ose (LV), Gita Drungilienė (LT), Ina Kažuro (LT), Milda Kvizikevičiūtė (LT), Sigitas Narbutas (LT), Monika Opalinska (PL), and Peter Sjökvist (SE) will broaden the scope of topics presented, including the aspect of the mobility of collections.
Full program [tba]
Venue & Registration
Registration is now open! Participation is free of charge.
To secure your spot, please complete the form: https://reg3.lnb.lv/
Date: 25 - 27 November 2024
Location:
25 - 26 November, National Library of Latvia
Mūkusalas iela 3, Riga
27 November, Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation
Palasta iela 4, Riga
Travel information [tba]
If you have any questions, please contact Ineta Vaivode, National Library of Latvia.
E-mail: ineta.vaivode@lnb.lv
Accommodation
Conference organizers have negotiated best rates for your accommodation in two hotels.
Wellton Riverside & SPA
Promo code: LNB2024
-10% off when booking in https://www.wellton.com/en
Bellevue Park Hotel Riga
Promo code: BIBLIOTEKA
Special offer price when booking in https://hotelbellevue.lv/
Partners
The conference is organised by the National Library of Latvia in partnership with the University of Antwerp and Museum Plantin-Moretus. It is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and endorsed by the Consortium of European Research Libraries. It will be part of the anniversary program celebrating 500 Years of Latvian Books.
