While libraries may be considered by some to be havens for the lone (and lonely) pursuit of life-long learning, the reality is that they have always been at the centre of communities – both physical and virtual.

In medieval times, the creation of a single illuminated manuscript usually involved the labour of several skilled artisans engaging in the preparation of the vellum, the transcription of the text, and the illumination of the text. Although the audience of those masterworks was limited to the privileged who could read, the intent was to utilize the community to preserve the teachings embodied in the text for future generations.