Amid a wonderful visit to the rolling green wonder that is Herefordshire, I came across this in Herefordshire Cathedral. The Chained Library was introduced by a lot of information about how time-consuming it was to prepare the vellum (animal skin) and to write on it. As a system against theft (but by whom and selling to whom?), it will have worked. The chained books were taken down and read, still chained to the shelf. How dismal must that have been, how unlikely for the reading to give rise to thought which was innovative or challenging?
I hope someone can tell me I am wrong.
Londonlawcalling 