For a character, who seems to have invented Spell Reflection spell (hence it's name Shalidor's Mirror in Arena and Daggerfall), and was overall a really powerful and important archmage of his era, there's not many information of him. Who was he? What era did he live in?

He was the archmage of the college, and I assume he was around during the first era. Seems to have been a really smart dude too.

Wonder if he has any real secrets he left behind. Somethin really cool.

I wish there was more to his book collecting quests, such as the orsimer explaining what he wrote, instead of hording it and giving me paper scraps. I AM THE [censored] ARCHMAGE! YOUR LIBRARY IS MINE!

We do have some insight into Shalidor's character; According to a book in game (can't remember the title, at the moment) he built the maze at Labyrinthian as a kind of Thunderdome for mages. Survive, and you're of arch-mage quality. Die, and you probably end up fighting the next adventure driven/stupid enough to go in. So, in short: Not a very nice fellow.

Arch mage quality? Ha ha ha ha (sarcastic D bag laugh). You don't even have to be a mage to make it through his day care center.

Agreed, the staff's shouldn't be present.