Camilla Grand Library

The official repository for the knowledge of Centrum. Centrum's unique position among trade routes gave us a unique opportunity to acquire and preserve knowledge from all corners of the world. I assure you that this opportunity was not wasted.

— Jumana Lebeau, Librarian of the Camilla Grand Library

Overview

This library is the official source of knowledge of the Free City of Centrum. What is seen and heard during a merchant's travels often finds its way to this grand library. The library graciously accepts manuscripts and items from almost anyone. It is no surprise that the library contains one of the largest collections of texts on the continent.
Of course, all this knowledge isn't free to be given out at any time. To be granted access to all library materials a modest fee is to be paid. This annual fee is to help fund the library's operations. If one has only an interest in a specific piece of manuscript then a few coins are all that is asked for.

The Camilla Dictionary Project

Perhaps its greatest project in recent years, the The Camilla Dictionary Project seeks to catalogue all words and their meanings across time in all commonly used languages (especially those used in business). The dictionary project has been years in the making and it is expected that many more are needed before the project can be completed. The library has produced several volumes to date, two for the common language, one for the elvish language, and one for the dwarvish language. These volumes already are under scrutiny for some missing words and are thus will be revised at a later date.

Purpose / Function

The library was constructed as a new, grander repository to better reflect Centrum's growing wealth and status. Functionality was considered too, as the new structure had to be capable of safely housing even more texts than the previous library. Merchants traveling through the city are wise to consult this library for news, new business developments, and for increasing their knowledge overall. An informed merchant is often a successful one.
Camilla Grand Library replaced the Eustacia Library, the former central library of Centrum. This former library is now the Eustacia Archive which is under the care of The Archivists Guild.

Architecture

The Camilla Grand Library is of stone construction with a copper roof. This roof has since turned green due to exposure to air exposure for over a century.
The interior of the structure includes a great reading room with walls of great bookshelves filled with a great number of books, tablets, and scrolls. Away from the walls is another set of bookshelves holding much of the same. In the center of the reading room are several large tables used by scholars or the intellectually curious for reading and study.
Several librarians oversee that books are appropriately loaned, sold, and returned. They take great care to ensure that texts remain undamaged and will commission scribes to create new copies if need arises. Much of the texts in the library are copies of their originals. This is by design so that the originals can remain with their owners, and to ensure consistency of readability.

Founding Date

1126

Alternative Names

The Grand Library of Centrum

Type

Library

Parent Location

Free City of Centrum

---

Topics Found within this Library

• Bookkeeping tomes
• Precious minerals and metals studies
• Expedition reports
• Historical records
• Medicinal tomes
• Arcane tomes
• Sailing techniques
• Current events
• Combat techniques
• A history of armor
• A history of armaments
• Camilla dictionary volumes

---

Note(s) from the Archivists:

I think the grand library is overrated, personally. - Archivist Enna
Yeah, what we do is much cooler. - Archivist Bob
We should be mindful that our mission is not the same as theirs. Ours is one of rediscovery and preserving all there is to know, theirs is one of keeping knowledge that is functionally useful. Remember that our organization is quite young, theirs has been around longer. - Archivist Taenya Naïlo
I think they're still overrated. They're not good at sharing.- Archivist Enna