As for the Vatican not allowing all the manuscripts to be viewed-could it be possible that it is because some of them are older, frailer, rarer-and far too valuable?
After all, they would have to worry about theft, and just plain handling of these artifacts, would they not?
I hope they’re concerned about this. If not, they’ll be robbed blind.
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/exlibris/1997/12/msg00154.html
http://www.maineantiquedigest.com/articles/artintel.htm#prisoners
Jabba wrote:
Well, why not say “You are not yet thirty-three?”. It’s just the same problem as with any bifurcation.
No, because it is, as yet, unrealistic to expect such libraries to put more than a tiny proportion of their collection onto the Web. In the case of the books, most of them will also be held by other libraries and there is an argument that, in the first instance, only one copy of each book needs to be digitized. Manuscripts are different, in that each is, by definition, unique, but they also tend to be much more difficult to reproduce. As it is, the Vatican Library does seem to be making a start.
http://portico.bl.uk/gabriel/about_cenl/reports/contents/vatican-01-02.html
The Vatican collection was microfilmed in case Rome was bombed in World War II, and the microfilm is stored in the library at St. Louis University (my alma mater). I think you have to jump through some hoops to be able to see any of it, though.
You’re a SLU alumnus! Cool! I’m a grad student there… 
Anyway, I checked the website – it says that the collection is open to the public as long as you show them a valid photo ID, which ought not to count as having to jump through hoops. 
Nothing wrong with dyeing a virgin - long as she likes the colour and can wash it off later.