A scribe at work, a woodcut from a writing manual called "Libellus valde doctus elegans, et utilis, multa et varia scribendarum literarum genera complectens" by Urban Wyss, Zurich, 1549. A scribe is a person who writes books or documents by hand in hieroglyphics, cuneiform or other scripts and may help keep track of records for priests and government. The profession, previously found in all literate cultures in some form, lost most of its importance and status with the advent of printing. The work could involve copying books, including sacred texts, or secretarial and administrative duties, such as taking of dictation and the keeping of business, judicial and, historical records for kings, nobles, temples, and cities.