National Literature Centre
Encyclopedia
The National Literature Centre , abbreviated to CNL, is the national literary archive of Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...

. It is based in the town of Mersch
Mersch
Mersch is a commune and town in central Luxembourg, capital of the canton of Mersch. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers Alzette, Mamer and Eisch., the town of Mersch, which lies in the centre of the commune, has a population of 3,345...

, about 15 kilometers to the north of Luxembourg City. Created as a research library
Research library
A research library is a library which contains an in-depth collection of material on one or several subjects . A research library will generally include primary sources as well as secondary sources...

 in 1995, the CNL's collections include more than 40,000 volumes, a majority of them written by authors of Luxembourgish descent or residing in Luxembourg, as well as an ever-growing collection of manuscripts, letters and personal items. The library also collects newspaper clippings relating to Luxembourgish literature and literary journals and serials. As one of Luxembourg's legal deposit libraries, it receives copies of nearly all books produced in Luxembourg and actively purchases monographs by Luxembourgish authors printed abroad.

Historical background

In 1995, the CNL was created as a part of the Luxembourg national archives. The idea was to assemble all documents relating to the literary life in Luxembourg, both contemporary and historical, in a single place and thus to create a focal point for literary researchers. In addition to encouraging and facilitating research, the CNL also promotes contemporary literary output, by organising exhibitions, conferences, reading sessions and various events relating to literature in Luxembourg. Since 2005, the CNL is a fully-fledged independent cultural institute.

The literary center is housed in the Maison Servais, a large 17th century mansion which once belonged to the Luxembourgish politician Emmanuel Servais
Emmanuel Servais
Lambert Joseph Emmanuel Servais was a Luxembourgian politician. He held numerous offices of national importance, foremost amongst which was in serving as the fifth Prime Minister of Luxembourg, for seven years, from 3 December 1867 until 26 December 1874.After being Prime Minister, he was a...

. The last inhabitant of the mansion, Jeanne Servais, donated the house to the town of Mersch. The premises were then handed over to the State of Luxembourg, who renovated the house and installed the Centre national de littérature in it. The main building now houses five exhibition rooms, the library, a reading room, researchers' and administrative offices and two conference rooms. A newly erected second building houses the literary café, which is used for various literary get-togethers. Both buildings are flanked by a public park.

The CNL's premises are currently undergoing extension. In early 2008, the adjacent building, which is now being renovated, will house a part of the archives' storage and office facilities.

Access to the collections

The CNL's collections can be consulted by researchers and students as well as interested members of the public. It is however not a general public library
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...

, but rather a research library specializing in Luxemburgensia. A range of Luxembourgish newspapers and reference works such as dictionaries and encyclopaedias can be freely accessed in the reading room. The library's catalogue can be consulted on the Luxembourg National Library's integrated catalogue, which is based on the commercial Integrated Library System Aleph. The library also offers other specialised catalogues and research services.

Exhibitions

The CNL regularly organises exhibitions which often display manuscripts or other precious items from the archives' funds to the general public. The exhibitions deal with Luxembourgish literary life in the broadest sense, and often highlight cultural exchanges between Luxembourgish and German or French authors.

Exhibition catalogues

  • Hôtes de Colpach. 1997
  • Kontakte, Kontexte. 1999
  • Lëtzebuergesch - "eng Ried déi vun allen am meeschten em ons klengt". 2000
  • Un défi - 20 ans d'éditions Phi. 2001
  • De Michel Rodange 'Op en Neis fotografëert'. 2002 (incl. CD)
  • Choc et vision. 2005

Literary research

Apart from helping other researchers in their work, the CNL also does its own literary research. It regularly publishes exhibition catalogues, essays on Luxembourgish literature and scholarly re-editions of important works by Luxembourgish authors. A list of the CNL's publications shows that the institute's research tries to reflect the ample use of each of the country's three national languages, namely Luxembourgish, French and German.

Nei Lëtzebuerger Bibliothéik

In this series (which, in English, means: New Luxembourgish Library) are published commented re-editions of Luxembourgish literary works. The aim is to give the reader an insight into the life and work of an author, an understandung of the times in which the work was written and a bibliography which enables further research. As of 2007, thirteen volumes have been published:
  • Michel Rodange
    Michel Rodange
    Michel Rodange was a Luxembourgian writer and poet, best known for writing Luxembourg's national epic, Rénert the Fox....

    : D'Léierchen
  • Félix Thyes
    Félix Thyes
    Félix Thyes is recognized as the first Luxembourg author to write a novel in French. Marc Bruno, profil d'artiste was published shorty after his death in 1855. He was also the first literary historian to discuss literature written in Luxembourgish. -His novel:Marc Bruno: portrait d'un artiste is a...

    : Marc Bruno
  • Nik Welter
    Nik Welter
    Nikolaus “Nik” Welter was a Luxembourgish writer, playwright, poet, professor, literary critic , and statesman. He wrote predominantly in German...

    : Lene Frank
  • Edmond de la Fontaine
    Dicks
    Edmond de la Fontaine , better known by his pen name of Dicks, was a Luxembourgian jurist, poet, and lyricist, known for his work in the Luxembourgish language. He is considered the national poet of Luxembourg, and, along with Michel Lentz and Michel Rodange, one of the most important figures in...

    : Mumm Séis/Mutter Suse
  • Paul Palgen: Choix de poèmes
  • Nikolaus Hein: Der Verräter
  • Isi Comes: 7 Erzielongen
  • Alexander Weicker: Fetzen
  • Batty Weber
    Batty Weber
    Batty Weber is considered to have been one of Luxembourg's most influential journalists and authors, contributing much to the development of the country's national identity...

    : Fenn Kass
  • Joseph Funck: Kleines Schicksal
  • Pol Michels: Choix de textes
  • Antoine Meyer
    Antoine Meyer
    Antoine Meyer, also known as Antun or Tun Meyer was a Luxembourg-born mathematician and poet who later adopted Belgian nationality...

    : E Schréck op de Lëtzebuerger Parnassus (incl. CD)
  • Frantz Clement: Zickzack

Bibliographie courante

This annual bibliography is a compilation of all books and articles written in Luxembourg or abroad on the literary production in Luxembourg, including such areas as theatre and linguistics.
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