List of Libraries of Asdar
These are the largest and most well-known libraries in modern-day Asdar. There are many small book collections in the hands of the wealthy and diligent book collectors which are not sufficiently sizable or noteworthy lacking in this list. However, the greatest of tomes could potentially be found in the numerically least of collections. The size of the library's collection is based upon data given by the library and confirmed by specialists from the regional guild of librarians. Even the greatest of cities, such as Tauhad, has less than a few dozen libraries of note and only two librarians guilds, one for archivists in the magisterial bureaucracy and one for librarians for centers of education and corpora mercia. Bryndyd, Aurice, Verdida, Deliops, and some other major cities have only one such guild.
Printing Presses in the World of Asdar
In the world of Asdar, titancraft printing presses enable a mass production of books like as on Earth. But most states and jurisdictions have laws that require books to be licensed, in some jurisdictions, individually numbered to show that the contents of the book does not have spell material or subversive chaos cult material. Books with spellcraft must be especially licensed and inspected to show that they do not promote the worship of chaos and that the proper tax, if any, has been paid for the book, ostensibly to pay for the bureaucracy to inspect such books. A licensed book with have a metallic-colored paper glued to the interior of the cover where it can be easily found and presented on demand of a government official.
Thanks to this governmental regulation, books are not as cheap as printing presses would otherwise allow. For this reason, libraries are more precious in the world of Asdar than on Earth and less accessible to the general public. Academic libraries limit their volumes to registered students, scholars, faculty, and administrators. Governmental archives are restricted to officers of the respective jurisdiction. Private libraries of any notable size are the privilege of the wealthy and of corpora mercia. A functioning wizard's library can command a large fortune as the materials are costly, the desirability is very high, and the registration and licensing fees per book are the highest of all types of books.
Press Liberty in the Republic of Gonsk
Standing out from other states, the Republic of Gonsk famously does not regulate books with licensing fees. A book of magic used to harm someone or to cast harmful chaos magic can be confiscated, but not pre-emptively. This liberal policy has brought the censure of other nations, but Gonsk is determined to take what it regards as the high road and has become a haven for printing presses skirting the edge of the laws of other lands. As a consequence, there is a great trade in books in Gonsk. The Free City of Elmundel while boasting typical licensing regulations on its law books, does not enforce them and has a similarly brisk market in books.
It is common for customs officials to administer a thorough inspection to travelers from Gonsk, Elmundel, and other states with lax book regulations and for this reason, book smuggling is rampant throughout the Pallathantic.
List of Libraries of Asdar
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