Michał Krzysztof Hanow on the contributions of the oldest Gdańsk librarians from the 17th and the 18th century

Abstract

The author presents the work published in 1758 Protoscholarcharum et protobibliothecariorum Gimnasii Academici Gedanensis meritorum memoria saecularis saeculi eiusdem secundi paucis adumbrata by Michał Krzysztof Hanow (the Enlightenment scholar living in the years 1695-1773, professor of philosophy in the Academic Gymnasium in Gdańsk, and librarian in the City Council Library), concerning the achievements and merits of 16 Gdańsk proto-librarians active in the years 1655-1758. Hanow did not present their biographies, he focused only on their merits for the City Council Library, and thus he indicated indirectly their competences and scope of activities. The work being discussed confirms interests in library topics in Gdańsk in the Enlightenment period. It offers information about people ex officio caring for the libraries and presents the results of their efforts.