The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-01
THEY CHAINED THEIR BOOKS.
Methods Resorted to by Librarians
of Middle Ages.
From the Scientific American.

of Middle Ages.
From the Scientific American.
In paper on the Libraries of the Mid
die Ages" recently read by Mr.. 7. G.
jackson before the Royal Institute of Brit
ish Architects, the lecturer said that build
ings specially to hold their libraries were
first erected by the universities and col
leges. The Oldest structure of the kind in
England, perhaps in Europe, is the old
library of the University of oxford. which
still retains many features of Its original
form. This structure, rarely seen by Wis
itors, and even unknown 10 the majority
of Oxford men, Is a two-storied building
situated on the north side of the choir of
ST. Marys Church, adjoining the tower
at one end, and separated from the body
of the church by a narrow court yard.
Having glanced at the way books We're
kept, used and lent at Oxford prior to the
erection of this building, the lecturer gave
a sketch of its foundation by Gotham,
Bishop of Worcester about 1920, and some
incidents in its early history, following
with a description of the interior, furni-
ture and general arrangements. Long
desks were placed at regular Intervals
at right angles TO the walls, on which the
volumes lay on their sides. A bench was
fixed in front of the reader, and a window
that pew or cell. Every volume had
metal clip riveted to the front edge of the
board forming one cover, to which was at
tached a light iron clasp of the requisite
length, having al the other end ring
This ring was upon an iron rod which was
carried along the top of the desk, and was
secured al the end by a hasp and pad
lock to prevent the ring being drawn off.
The foundation of Bishop Cobhams IL
brary was succeeded shortly afterward by
that of the library of Durham College,
Oxford, by Richard de Bury, Bishop OF
Durham G335-45). The books bequeathed
by De Bury to the college were kept for
many years in the chests under the Gus
tody of scholars deputed for the purpose.
At the beginning of the fifteenth century
a library was built and regularly furnish
ed with bookcases or settees inclosing pews
or studies between them where the books
were chained. When Durham College
came to an end at the dissolution its old
buildings were utilized by its successor,
the present Trinity, and the old library
of Durham College still serves as the Ii
brary of Trinity College. William OF
Wykeham's New College at Oxford set
the fashion for all future collegiate build
ings at either university in provision be-
ing made for every department and thence
forward every college had its library as
an essential part of its plan. Though
books were few the room devoted to them
had to be large, the claiming Of the books
to the desks making 1t possible to have
only few on each desk. Soon, as the
books increased, shelves were formed be-
hind the desks, tier by tier, until at last,
in the seventeenth or eighteenth century,
they reached the ceiling. The appearance
of the fittings before that time could be
well seen in the old library of Merton
College. OF chained libraries there were
at least three extant In England, that
belonging to Hereford Cathedral being the
most ancient and perfect. Old chains,
hasps. and staples belonging to Hereford
specimens of the actual fittings of
medieval chained library-were exhibited
nv Mr. Jackson and the method of ixa-
tion explained All Saints Church, Here
ford and Wimborne Minister also possess
chained libraries. But the finest in the
world is that of San Lorenzo, Florence,
The great hall of which was designed by
Michael Angelo in 1924, said to contain
the collection formed by several genera
tions of the Medici The lecturer then
touched on the difficulties of consulting
hooks In the old chained libraries Shelves
for the ever-increasing number of books
had been provided, but desk accommoda-
lion remained as before. One student oc-
cupied on a volume prevented three or
four others getting access to the books.
This led 10 the library rooms being en-
larged. Chains were bought for the Bod
leian Library as late as 1851; it was not
I'm 1757 that this method of securing the
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