Report on the Workshop “Libraries and Archives of Religion”
On March 27 and 28, EPHE – PSL brought together at the Abbey of Royaumont the leading institutions holding collections related to the theme of religion, within the framework of the RESILIENCE PPP program. The workshop convened experts from libraries and religious archives to discuss the European research infrastructure RESILIENCE, as well as issues of networking and interoperability.
An Initial Mapping of Collections
Representatives from the Library of the Institut de France, the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF), the Sorbonne Interuniversity Library, the Humathèque, the Institute for Research and History of Texts (IRHT), the National and University Library of Strasbourg (Bnu), the Media Library of the Maison méditerranéenne des sciences humaines et sociales (MMSH), Aix–Marseille University, the Fenouillères University Library (AmU), the École française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO), the University Library of Languages and Civilizations (BULAC), and the Guimet Museum Library, as well as partners from KU Leuven, were invited to present an initial overview of their collections and of projects developed around them.
Beyond the discovery of new documentary resources, the workshop explored needs specific to this field of study. Participants addressed cross-cutting issues and challenges such as the absence of a “religion” category in certain research catalogs, the definition of this category, approaches to extra-European worlds and their conceptual frameworks, and the challenges of transliteration.
Toward a National and European Network
Building on existing initiatives within the CollEx‑Persée and ReligiS programs, discussions highlighted the value of broader cooperation at the European level. The issue of interoperability emerged as particularly pressing. Participants’ needs and expectations were collected during a dedicated idea incubator session.
These proposals helped outline an initial roadmap for the next phase of RESILIENCE (June 2026–May 2028), while also opening perspectives on the activities and coordination of the French national node.
Contacts
Vassa Kontouma, Professor, EPHE-PSL
Aurélie Jouvenel, Coordinator of the RESILIENCE PPP Program
