LMA Vrublevskių bibliotekos darbai
2025, t. 14, p. 8–9. ISSN 2783-7300, eISSN 2783-7297
doi: 10.54506/LMAVB.2025.14.2
Preface
We are pleased to present the fourteenth volume of our ongoing scholarly serial publication, which was first published in 2004. The year 2025 has been designated by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania as the Year of Motiejus Kazimieras Sarbievijus (1595–1640) and Baroque Literature. In honour of this occasion, the Library has created a virtual exhibition titled “I Draw the Splendid Beauties of Your World, O Christ”, available online: http://eparodos.mab.lt/s/-tavo-pasaulio-puikaus-kristau-grozybes-piesiu-br-skirta-pamineti-motieju-kazimiera-sarbieviju-ir-baroko-literaturos-metus.
A continuation of the cycle “The Secrets of Pacas”, begun last year to explore Baroque culture, is entitled The Second Secret of Pacas. In this installment, Dr. Sigitas Narbutas tells the story of Kristupas Zigmantas Pacas (1621–1684), Grand Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and cousin of the protagonist of the first Secret of Pacas, Mykolas Kazimieras Pacas (1624–1682), Grand Hetman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Both men are renowned for their contributions to the Lithuanian Baroque era, leaving behind significant 17th-century works in literature, art, and architecture that display a remarkable unity of ideas and vision.
The scholarly articles section features four peer-reviewed contributions. The first, written in English and richly illustrated, is a study of decorative elements in early Vilnius printing, conducted by Dr. Ina Kažuro of the Vilnius University Library. In another article, Ingrida Pajedaitė, a staff member of the Manuscripts Department at the Wroblewski Library of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, examines the 19th-century sculptor Helena Skirmuntt and her most renowned work, a chess set. She presents recently identified sketches of chess pieces and explores the circumstances under which they became part of the Library’s collection. In his article, the linguist and researcher of the literature of Lithuania Minor, Dr. Artūras Judžentis, examines the source of Jurgis Zablockis’ (ca. 1510–1563) litany translation, which was published in the hymnal of Martynas Mažvydas’ catechism. In a separate study, Dr. Timofej Murašov of the Rare Books Department adopts an original philosophical approach to explore lectio divina as one of the possible techniques for performative reading of the Holy Scriptures, aiming to highlight the questions and deeper meanings embedded within literary works.
In the section “From the Library’s Collections”, Rasa Sperskienė, a researcher at the Manuscripts Department, presents the documentary heritage of Peliksas Bugailiškis (1883–1965) – a lawyer, local historian, and museologist – kept in the department’s hodings. She highlights his contributions as a manuscripts researcher during his tenure at the Manuscripts Department of the Central Library of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences.
The publication’s new section, “Current Issues”, features an analysis by Dr. Sigitas Narbutas, Dr. Rima Cicėnienė, and Nijolė Kolesinskienė, examining the development, significance, and future prospects of the “Lituanistika” database. This report was presented at a public discussion organized by the Research Council of Lithuania on 13 November 2025, focusing on the database’s modernization and continued operation.
The section “The Wroblewski Library of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences in 2024” features the Library’s annual activity report, prepared by the Academic Secretary Leokadija Kairelienė. It also includes a list of the Library staff’s publications in 2024, compiled by Vaida Juodėnienė, senior bibliographer of the Scholarly Information Department, along with the Library’s activity chronicle, assembled by Loreta Glebavičiūtė of the same department, and bibliographic information collected by Vaida Juodėnienė documenting the Library’s coverage in the media throughout 2024.
The section “In Memoriam” pays tribute to the late distinguished long-time member of the Library staff, Povilas Saudargas (1938–2025).
We extend our sincere gratitude to the authors of this publication and the reviewers of the research articles for their valuable insights and constructive guidance.
We warmly invite researchers from Lithuania and abroad who study documentary heritage and the history and contemporary issues of memory institutions to submit their work for publication.
Daiva Narbutienė
November 2025