The phrase suggests a significant focus on materials primarily composed of paper, such as books, documents, manuscripts, and similar items. It implies a setting, process, or activity where these items are central, requiring considerable handling, study, management, or creation. For example, an archive dedicated to preserving historical records would be described by this term.
Concentrating on these resources facilitates detailed analysis, preservation, and dissemination of information. This focus is vital in fields like history, literature, law, and education, where primary source documents and published works form the foundation of knowledge. Historically, access to and management of paper-based materials were critical indicators of power and intellectual development within societies.
