The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: And Their Race to Save the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts

Timbuktu's ancient manuscripts, a treasure trove of historical and scholarly significance, faced severe threats during the 2012 occupation by Islamist groups. A group of librarians, often referred to as 'bad-ass librarians,' successfully smuggled out over 350,000 manuscripts, preserving a wealth of knowledge that spans centuries. These manuscripts include works on astronomy, medicine, law, and Islamic scholarship, providing invaluable insights into the intellectual history of West Africa. The librarians employed innovative strategies to protect and transport these delicate documents, demonstrating remarkable ingenuity and resilience in the face of adversity.

Commisso, C. (2016). The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: And Their Race to Save the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts. Preservation, Digital Technology & Culture, 45(2), 98–100. https://doi.org/10.1515/pdtc-2016-0008