Library

The Perspective Research Centre (PRC) curates a specialist library on perspective and related subjects, named the Library of Perspective.

The library was formed over 50 years; and consists of the amalgamation of several earlier collections from various sources including, the Perspective Unit at the University of Toronto; and the Maastricht McLuhan Institute. Today the library is known as the Library of Perspective [60 MB pdf], while large parts of this library formerly comprised the research library of Professor Kim Veltman.

The Library of Perspective consists of 5000 physical items: books, journals, papers, academic theses, treatise(s), and pamphlets; plus 10,000 digital items.

Library Catalogue – printed edition

The first printed edition of the library catalogue, detailing a large subset of the contents of our Library of Perspective, is set to be published on Amazon:

1. The Library of Perspective :: publication date :: July 1st 2025

Professor Kim Veltman’s personal or academic library was a wonder to behold, spread across approximately 10,000 physical volumes/journals and running to perhaps 50 bookcases in his Maastricht house; giving the impression of a magician’s cave or the library of a modern-day Aristotle, Einstein, or Leonardo da Vinci. Indeed, many learned visitors to Kim’s house can attest that he—and his library—did not disappoint in this respect.

This book is a meticulously assembled library catalogue of the contents of the Library of Perspective, whereby modern scholars can browse the contents of Kim Veltman’s library, and seek out interesting works for themselves.

We shall publish a link to the book here when it is released. To receive an email notification of the release date in your country, email: alansradley@gmail.com.

Library of Kim Veltman (c. 2020).

Library Contents

The Library of Perspective primarily focuses on the history, theory, and applications of visual, optical and technical perspective, projection methods, imaging, and spatial concepts; whilst holding records on human vision, perception and associated visual media.

Of particular note is that the library includes (in totality) the rare perspective library of Kim Veltman amounting to some 700 volumes. Plus Kim’s library on Leonardo da Vinci is included (approx. 500 volumes, with additional unique manuscripts penned by Kim). Also the collection contains Alan Radley’s one-of-a-kind optics library consisting of around 300 volumes.

We maintain the official papers of Veltman’s lifetime works—as listed in the Kim Veltman Archive. This archive has copies of over 400 books, articles, papers, etc., written by Kim during his lifetime, and a list of archive holdings is in the Library of Perspective contents book/file.

Kim Veltman worked closely with new media scholar Professor Marshall McLuhan. Kim acquired an extensive library on New Media, plus details of digital and electronic media’s history and projected future(s). The Library of Perspective contains the library of the Maastricht McLuhan Institute (in full), which reflects the full gamut of old and New Media technologies.

The main theme of the Dahlberg section of the library is knowledge organisation including its philosophical and theoretical background, classification methodology, its universal and special systems, indexing and terminology. Correspondingly there are sections on each of these areas. In addition there are sections on linguistics, special glossaries, library and information science.

The Library of Perspective continues to develop, and we are endeavouring to collect further perspective related materials; including books, articles and papers etc.

Collections

The Library of Perspective is comprised of a number of specialised collections devoted to particular subjects.

Primary Topics

• Optical / Technical Perspective (approx. 700 volumes)
• Leonardo da Vinci (approx. 500 volumes)
• Optics (Geometrical, Psychological) (approx. 500 volumes)
• New Media (Film, Photography, Television, Internet) (hundreds of volumes)
• Knowledge Organisation, classification and indexing (hundreds of volumes)

Secondary Topics

• Space / Time
• Stereoscopy, 3D Cinema and Binocular Vision
• Philosophy (Eastern, Western) (over 200 volumes)
• History of Language, Communication and the Alphabet (hundreds of volumes)
• History of Photography, Cinema and Television
• Scientific Instruments: Telescopes, Cameras, Astrolabes, Sundials etc. (over 300 volumes)
• Maps and Cartography (over 150 volumes)
• Virtual Reality (over 100 volumes)
• Graphics, Computer Graphics, Visualisation (over 250 volumes)
• User Interface Design
• Mind, Memory and Conceptual Thinking
• History of Science (over 350 volumes)

Tertiary Topics (sample)

• Architecture, Environmental Design
• Engineering And Mechanical Drawing
• Futurism, Panoramas, Multi-Scale Views
• Aberration, Distortion and Anamorphosis
• Spherical Vision, Curvilinear and Spherical Perspective
• History of Mathematics, Geometry / Structure
• Mirrors, Illusion, Lumia, Cinematic Special Effects
• Non-Euclideon Space and The Fourth Dimension
• Art History, History of Theatre
• Artificial Intelligence, Rational Agents
• Human Vision, Eye, Visual Perception
• Cybernetics and Automation
• Man-Machine Systems
• Spies and Spying, Utopia / Dystopia
• Invention, Inventors and Inventive Process
• Humanism, Human Freedom, Ethical Technology
• Academic Theses (over 200)

People

• Professor Kim Veltman (official archive) – over 400 items
• Buckminster Fuller – archive of all publications (physical and digital copies)
• Professor Ted Nelson – archive of most publications
• Professor Marshall McLuhan – complete archive of all publications
• Professor Sir Ernst Gombrich – complete archive of all publications
• Professor Ingetraut Dahlberg – complete archive

Library Indexing and Organisation

It has been decided to create an index of the collection based on physical items arranged according to topic/subject classification (indexing by a single primary topic plus multiple secondary topics where useful).

-- < LATEST NEWS > --

The Library of Perspective Catalogue is published as a first edition.

At present, we are in the process of cataloguing and organising the remaining volumes (approx. 1000) for incorporation into the list as time allows. Until that task is complete, we show a partially completed list of holdings in the library. 

The 'Library of Perspective' is also available as a printed book from Amazon.com; search for the Library of Perspective. 

Watch this space for more information.

I appreciate your patience.

Alan Radley -- 7th May 2025 --
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Dr Alan Radley FRSA | Scientific Director
alan@perspectiveresearchcentre.com

Perspective Research Centre
www.perspectiveresearchcentre.com