We are an international membership organisation that brings together research libraries and heritage institutions.
We engage in promoting, sharing and developing the written heritage of Europe – books and manuscripts produced before the middle of the 19th century – represented by the collections of our members and beyond.
CERL acts as a hub for collaboration, data and knowledge-sharing across Europe and beyond, supporting both institutions and research that engages with European early printed books and manuscripts. We are an important specialised data network for bibliographic and authority records and provenance data, including material aspects of the book as an item. We play a unique role in connecting this data and research, offering specialised, authoritative resources.
We support a rich professional network, international cooperation and professional development through working groups and partnerships. This is reflected in the publications on our blog and our many events.
Read more about our history and our latest news in the CERL Newsletter.
