Wissen im Raum

Abstract Medieval manuscripts and early printed books were among the most important mediums for the transmission of knowledge in the premodern era. Taking into consideration the development of digitally structured systems of ordering knowledge that are irreversibly changing the patterns established hundreds of years ago, the articles of this issue focus on the haptically tangible order of knowledge in analogue space as embodied in individual books and book collections. Through the study of the long-term dynamics that this structure underwent, paired with their accompanying social, educational and technical changes, the papers give insights into the fundamental differences between analogue and digital orders of knowledge. Diverse examples from the field of premodern library studies (encompassing bibliography and historical catalogues) demonstrate the chances and limits of transferring analogue order into digital structures.