Library

As a result of their important research activities Professors Barthélemy and Schenker have assembled an exceptionally rich collection of biblical texts. The general public and even several specialists are unaware of this valuable resource.

In the first instance, Professor Barthélemy assembled a great number of ancient manuscripts on microfilm. These manuscripts – written in Hebrew, Judeo-Arabic, Greek and Latin – are found scattered world-wide through the great libraries, such as the British Library, the Cambridge University Library, the National Library of Saint Petersburg, the National Library of Paris, and many more. A digitization of these microfilms is in process.
The gathering together into one location of such an extensive number of textual resources has resulted in the creation of a documentation unique in the world. In addition to this rich collection, Professors Barthélemy and Schenker have also established, in the course of their research, a scientific library composed of both ancient biblical editions and books which are at the cutting edge of most recent research.

The two Dominican priories of Saint Albert and Saint Hyacinthe in Fribourg have agreed to place the Barthélemy-Schenker collection at the disposition of the Barthélemy Institute. Accordingly, this patrimony will be thus perpetuated, and preserved in Fribourg in good condition and accesible to the scientific community and to the public at large. It is a heritage that can only bear fruit.

Location

Due to lack of sufficient space at the University, the Barthélemy Institute has installed its specialised library on the Rue des Alpes, in a room placed at its dispoosal by the Ursuline community. It consists of two desks for permanent researchers, as well as some places for guest researchers.