In the centuries that followed the collapse of the Roman Empire, book production and book collecting took place largely within the domain of monastic communities … Many monasteries also played an important role in salvaging the remains of Roman culture by copying manuscripts containing the works of classical authors; indeed, this is how virtually all classical texts have come down to us today.

Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile Hist…, loc. 75