Schlechter, Armin (Hrsg.): Gesammelt – zerstreut – bewahrt? Klosterbibliotheken im deutschsprachigen Südwesten. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 2021 (Veröffentlichungen der Kommission für geschichtliche Landeskunde in Baden-Württemberg. Reihe B: Forschungen: Bd. 226). VIII, 307 S., Farbtafeln, Schwarzweißabbildungen. ISBN 978-3-17-037425-6, 28,- €

The book "Gesammelt - zerstreut - bewahrt? Klosterbibliotheken im deutschsprachigen Südwesten" by Armin Schlechter deals with the history of monastery libraries in the southwestern German-speaking region. The effects of secularization on these libraries are examined, particularly in comparison to Bavaria. The book contains contributions on various aspects of monastery libraries, including their significance as places of tradition, case studies from the region, and the preservation of the book collections of the St. Gallen Abbey Library. It is emphasized that despite the loss of many libraries during secularization, there are still many sources on the history of southwestern German libraries, which are often scattered and difficult to find. [Extracted from the article]