The Patron Saint of Librarians

My favourite saint is Saint Jerome the patron saint of librarians, schoolchildren, students and archivists. He is described as being both cantankerous and lecherous so I think he should really be the patron saint of Chief Librarians. I know librarians who are cantankerous, and I know librarians who are lecherous, but the one's who are both cantankerous and lecherous tend to be the Chiefs. Anyway, St Jerome is of course best known for producing the Vulgate translation of the bible, but while running the papal library in Rome he became over friendly with some of the Library staff, namely St Paula and St Marcella. This led to a great deal of gossip. According to the splendidly malicious Oxford Dictionary of Saints, this led to gossip “much of which was misplaced”. But lets remember St Jerome for his erudition and his description in the Index of Patron Saints “What Jerome is ignorant of no man has ever known”.

A Fifteenth century job description

Some things just don't change......

"The librarian should be learned, of good presence, temper and manners; correct and ready of speech. He must get from the garderobe an inventory of the books, and keep them arranged, whether Latin, Greek, Hebrew, or others, maintaining also the rooms in good condition. He must preserve the books from damp and vermin, as well as from the hands of trifling, ignorant, dirtyand tasteless persons....He must let no book be taken away but by the Duke's orders, and if lent must get a written receipt, and see to its being returned. When a number of visitors come in, he must be specially watchful that none be stolen. All which is duly seen to by the present courteous and attentive librarian, Messer Agabito."

James Dennistoun  Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino (1909)