Laboratory of Paleography and Microfilm Archive
Description - Research Activities
The Laboratory of Palaeography and Microfilm Archive of the Department of Philology of the University of Crete was founded in 1998 by the Presidential Decree 193/1998 (ΦΕΚ 143/1.7.1998 τ. Α΄).
The purpose of the Laboratory is to cover the didactic, on the degree and postgraduate levels, and research needs of the Department of Philology, as well as those of other Departments of the University, in matters which fall into its sphere of relevance.
The Laboratory possesses an important and constantly increasing number of manuscripts, mainly of interest to Byzantine Studies, in the form of microfilms and digital reproductions. From September 2003, with funding from the Regional Operational Developmental Programme of Crete (2000-2006), it acquired up-to-date equipment for the digitalization of microfilms and by 2013, the process of digitalization of the material had been completed. The Laboratory also possesses microfilm readers and computers for the reading in situ of microfilms and digitalized manuscripts. It also has a small library of palaeographic interest, the books of which appear with special marking in the catalogue of the Library of the University of Crete.
The material of the Laboratory is made available, exclusively for the purposes of personal research, either in situ or upon completion of a request form. The Laboratory, if an understanding is reached with the responsible member of staff and for a symbolic fee, may undertake the digitalization of material on behalf of third parties.
The Laboratory of Palaeography is housed in the Rethymno Campus, in the building complex of the Department of Philology.
