Mining Library Treasures. Discovering the KNIR through its Special Collections

The KNIR special collections hold valuable treasures, which are the subject of important study and valorization projects. These include a collection of over a thousand rare books and other materials, from the sixteenth up to the twenty-first century, covering a wide array of topics. During this intensive course, students will gain hands-on experience in exploring the KNIR special collections from an interdisciplinary perspective. The resources covered in the course will be studied in the broader contexts of:

1. the book considered as a material object in itself, with everything that concerns both the edition (for example its diffusion) and the specific copy under study: the manufacture, the manuscript notes, the indications of ownership, etc.;
2. the content and the subject matter of the book, seen in the context of (early) modern scholarship (in the fields of literature, arts, history etc.) and book history;
3. the history of the KNIR and the development of its collections and research interests in the past, present and future;
4. the current collections of the KNIR library, especially the special ones, with particular attention to the preservation and care of physical copies, the linking of specific resources to others in the library’s collections or to resources of other institutions, for specific research purposes.

The course combines lectures and practical workshops with excursions to famous libraries and other sites in Rome. Before the start of the course, each student will be assigned a specific library resource on which to carry out preliminary research, as well as the literature to study.

During the course in Rome, several individual study sessions are planned, in which students will be able to personally study the assigned resource, to produce a short entry for the library catalogue, as well as an essay to be published on the KNIR website.

All participants will, in fact, work together on the creation of a website (connected to the KNIR one) that exposes the results of the course and which will be presented to the KNIR staff and community. After the conclusion of the course, students will combine all the information collected and the study carried out into a final research essay.

Course dates
7 – 18 September 2026

KNIR coordinator
Diana Giofrè, LLM (Head of KNIR Library and Special Collections)

Teaching staff
Dr. Rozanne Versendaal (Utrecht University), Dr. Katell Lavéant (University of Amsterdam), Diana Giofrè, LLM (KNIR)

Target group and admission
The course is open to a number of selected BA, (R)MA, and PhD students in History of the Book, Italian Studies, History, Art- and Architectural History, Classics, Renaissance Studies, and related disciplines from KNIR partner universities (University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Leiden University, Utrecht University, Radboud University, University of Groningen).

Credits
The study load is the equivalent of 5 ECTS (140 hours). Each student should arrange with their university coordinator whether the course can be a part of their existing curriculum. After successful completion of the course, the KNIR provides a certificate mentioning study load and grade. Please consider the possibility of granting 6 ECTS to students that require the additional credit. How this is to be acquired can be worked out in the course manual.

Costs
Participants will receive free tuition and excursions (including most entry fees for museums and archaeological sites). Travel expenses to and from Rome will be reimbursed up to € 100,- (or € 125,- in case you make the complete trip by train) upon a successful completion of this course. Meals and personal expenses are not included.

Facilities in Rome
All participants will be housed at the Royal Netherlands Institute near Rome’s Villa Borghese Park. From there, it is only a short walk to the historical center of Rome. The KNIR accommodation consists of shared bedrooms and bathrooms, and includes a living and dining space, a large kitchen, washing machine and wireless internet. All residents have 24/7 access to the library and gardens of the Royal Netherlands Institute.

Application and admission
The selection of participants is based on grades, the added value of the course in the student’s curriculum, a letter of motivation, and the composition of the group. Students can apply by sending an email to: secretary@knir.it with subject: “Application course Mining Library Treasures 2026”, and include in your application 1 PDF file, containing the following documents:

• a letter of motivation (max. 1 A4)
• a cv
• a recent list of courses followed and grades provided by your university

At KNIR we believe diversity enriches debate: different perspectives contribute to the quality of our work. We therefore value and highly encourage applications from students with diverse backgrounds and identities.

Deadline applications
29 June 2026. You will be notified about the outcome within two weeks after the deadline. Please note that the decision of the selection committee is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

More info
E-mail: secretary knir.it
Phone: (+39)063269621