The Digital Vatican Library: paths and perspectives

This contribution briefly retraces the steps that led the Vatican Apostolic Library to launch its manuscript digitization campaign (which began in 2010), and its development through various projects made possible by the support of benefactors. It also highlights how the Library may contribute to the MOL Liturgica project. The paper includes some reflections on how the Library has managed the changes brought about by digitization—balancing radical innovation with a continued commitment to the preservation and scholarly study of the manuscript heritage. Within the digitization workflow developed by the Vatican Library, particular emphasis is placed on the preliminary phase of manuscript analysis and study.