About CERL

Welcome to CERL, the Consortium of European Research Libraries. The Consortium's purpose is to share resources and expertise between research libraries with a view to improving access to, as well as exploitation and preservation of, the European printed heritage.

The Consortium was formed in 1992 on the initiative of research libraries in many European countries and legally came into being in June 1994. CERL seeks to share resources and expertise between research libraries with a view to improving access to, as well as exploitation and preservation of the European printed heritage in the hand-press period (up to c. 1850).

The diagram below shows how CERL activities suppport curators, librarians and researchers working with early printed books and manuscripts.

Registered Office:

Marsh’s Library
St Patrick’s Close
Dublin
Ireland
D08FK79

From January 2021, the Consortium is registered as a company limited by guarantee under Irish law, Company No.692695.

The company limited by guarantee under English Law (registered in 1992; Company No. 2942632) is a daughter of the Irish company.

Email: c.dondi@cerl.org