Harvard University's Rare Book Librarian Matthew Battles to Speak at Wabash

The Wabash College Lecture Committee is pleased to welcome Harvard University’s rare book librarian, Matthew Battles, on Wednesday, April 14 at 8:00 p.m. Battles will present a talk entitled "The Library and the Liberal Arts." The lecture will take place in the Lovell Lecture Room of Baxter Hall.

Battles' talk on Wednesday will explore the meaning of libraries to the study of the liberal arts in a wide range of times and cultures. One of his themes regarding contemporary American culture that he will explore is "Do college students read for pleasure and how do we foster a culture of lifelong readers?"

Battles is the author of Library: An Unquiet History. Writing from his unique perspective of a rare books librarian, Battles takes readers of his book on a spirited foray from Boston to Baghdad, from Classical scriptoria to medieval monasteries, from the Vatican to the British Library, and explores how libraries are built and how they are destroyed.

Battles visit is free and open the public. An informal reception will follow his talk.