Librije, Medieval chain library in Walburgiskerk, Netherlands.
The Librije is a library housed in a church where books have been chained to wooden reading desks since the 1500s. The volumes still rest on the original lecterns with their securing chains intact, creating an unusual reading arrangement.
Two church wardens established this library in 1564 with the goal of making knowledge accessible to ordinary citizens. This was an unusual step for the era, since books were rare and expensive.
The collection displays religious and scientific works that show what people valued and studied in medieval times. Walking through, you sense how knowledge was precious and controlled by those who managed the church.
Visiting is typically possible from spring through early fall, with guided tours that explain how the book storage and chaining system worked. Numbers are limited, so checking opening hours ahead of time is wise.
This is one of only two surviving chain libraries in Europe, with its counterpart standing in Italy. The chains allowed books to be protected from theft while still giving people access to read them.
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