This Encyclopedic Dictionary of Book Science is a publication
of the
government program to commemorate the 450th
anniversary of the first Lithuanian book. In planning meaningful celebrations to honor
this book, the organizers mainly strove to expand the horizons of Lithuanian scholarship
and culture. Under this program 33 books are to be published during 1996-97, in Lithuanian
and in other languages as well. Some of them are devoted to the author of the first
published Lithuanian words, Martynas Mažvydas, and his writings; others - to later
creators of early Lithuanian literature and to research on book history. Many of these
works have already appeared; the manuscripts of others are at the publisher's or
printer's; still others are being finished by their authors. Naturally, these authors have
placed great hopes in this anniversary, for this date, important to all of Lithuania, is
tied to the publication of the results of many years of scholarly work as well as the
discovery of new problems in research. Noteworthy among these publications is something
very modern: the electronic journal "The Year of the Lithuanian Book." In both
Lithuanian and other languages it resents video and audio documents about the Great Event
of the Book about its reverberations at home and abroad, and about the achievements of
friends of Lithuania and the written Lithuanian word. The first Lithuanian book and its
author, Martynas Mažvydas, are being immortalized in works of art, music, and sculpture.
Book scientists linguists, and historians discussed many worthwhile subjects for esearch
at scholarly conferences, where ideas were developed which will become significant
articles and monographs. One can rejoice that the book scientists of Lithuania worked so
well together, with their feet lanted firmly on the ground. One eloquent proof of their
abilities is his encyclopedic dictionary, with the logo of the Mažvydas program hat you
have just opened. When we celebrate the 500th anniversary of he first Lithuanian book, we
will have more such works, but this one, we hope, will not be forgotten.
Translated from the book jacket.
Prepared in the Department of Book Research, Vilnius University
Publishing House ALMA LITTERA,
Šermukšnių g. 3, 2600 Vilnius
http://www.aiva.lt/AlmaLittera
Vilnius, 1997
BOOK SCIENCE
