The Crisler Library at Ephesos
CLE History
On July 25, 2003 Janet Crisler landed in Turkey. Her goal was to building the Crisler Library in Bodrum (the site of the ancient city of Halicarnassus). With the generous help of donors Mrs. Crisler buildt a scholarly building to house B. Cobbey Crisler’s library. The building would also include the Elizabeth Hay Bechtel Manuscript Hall for a first century digital library, a research library, a periodical room, a lecture hall, a bookstore and guest accommodations.
A short time after the physical location of the Library changed to Selçuk/Ephesos permanently. And a colloboration with the Austria Archaeological Institute has been initiated for research on the early Roman harbor.
For the Trustees to fully support this exceedingly daring idea to build such a facility in a foreign country took enormous faith in the project. We moved forward and today we are strategically located adjacent to Ephesos the most important Hellenistic/Roman site in the world and it happens to be where B. Cobbey Crisler made a significant discovery at Celsus Library as part of his wider research on Paul the Apostle. (See the Celsus Library button for his article about the discovery.)
We have had successful Community Outreach programs i.e. Archaeology for Kids taught by a Turkish archaeologist and Janet, classical concerts, lectures by Turkish speaking archaeologists for the community, lectures about Ephesos by the Austrian archaeologists, community Art Exhibition and an English class for beginners. (See our fall newsletter for 2007).
The University Summer Abroad programs are where we have found our niche.
In 2008 our first ''Summer-school '' with 12 students from different countries took place.
Summer School from 2008 onwards We are cataloging the 3000 plus volume collection into the Library of Congress Call Number system which enables scholars anywhere in the world to access the collection for their individual research needs.
Our advisors are expert in their respective field.
Crisler Discovers Celsus Menora
Designer By Vaner YILDIRIM
