Karen Attar

Dr. Karen Attar is a Research Fellow at the Institute of English Studies, University of London, holding a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and an MA in Library and Information Science from University College London. Her research focuses on library history, bibliography, and the evolution of 19th-century institutional collections. She has held a fellowship from May 2017 to April 2020, during which she edited the wartime diary of the University of London Library and conducted extensive studies on Augustus De Morgan’s library. Her work bridges historical bibliography with modern cataloging practices, emphasizing institutional resilience and cultural preservation.

Education: B.A. (Hons) from Sydney, Ph.D. (Cantab.), and MA LIS with distinction from UCL. Her expertise spans rare books, special collections management, and the social history of reading. She has curated national directories of rare book collections and pioneered initiatives like the London Rare Books School. Recent projects include analyzing Shakespeare folio provenance and exploring autism inclusion in librarianship.

Publications span academic journals such as Library & Information History and The Book Collector, with edited volumes on Augustus De Morgan and historical library practices. She actively engages in conferences and public lectures, addressing topics from wartime library operations to Victorian readership patterns.

Awards: No scientific awards explicitly stated, but recognized for editorial contributions and academic innovation. Her work highlights interdisciplinary approaches to library science, blending historical analysis with contemporary professional challenges.