The Scaliger Institute is a shared initiative of Leiden University Library, and the faculties of Arts, Theology and Philosophy, with the goal to promote research and teaching around the Special Collections of the University Library. To this purpose numerous initiatives have been developed such as conferences, masterclasses, special courses and lecture cycles, fellowships, a chair, rotating professorship and seminars.These activities are accomodated in the general programme Sources of Knowledge. In choosing a co-ordinating theme the institute strives to increase the coherence of research around the Special Collections. Expectations are that the activities of the Scaliger Institute will mutually strengthen each other, which will lead to increased allure to scientists and students.

The added value of a broad theme is that the individual projects - within the diverse fields that the Special Collections covers- can be placed in a useful context. This enables new insights that transcend the traditional disciplines, provided that teaching and research remain the focal points both in the University Library as well as in the participating faculties of Philosophy, Theology and Arts. The Scaliger Institute will keep its focus on Sources of Knowledge; the history of scholarship, religion and art in the collections of Leiden University Library.