Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Mappa Mundi and the Chained Book Library

Mappa Mundi replica














Books in chains





















Among Hereford cathedral's most important and unique treasures are the 13th century Mappa Mundi (map of the world) and its two chained libraries. World maps are not unusual, but 13th century Christian maps are. This one is about a meter square, on vellum, in one hand. Pictured here is a replica (photography not allowed), but you can see the original on the web by apppropriately googling (mappa mundi hereford would do). As with everything else in the European middle ages, the map liberally mixes theology with whatever else is under discussion, in this case, geography.

In the middle ages, a book was as valuable as a farm or house (!!!), yet much more removable and portable and thus vulnerable to theft. The medieval answer to this problem was the so-called chained library, in which all the books are chained individually to a central rod, one on every shelf of the bookcase. Most others have disappeared, but Hereford's was in use well into the 18th century. Vicki commends this approach to all former fellow librarians concerned about library theft.  Myself, I am reminded that, at SMU, where libraries once reported to yours truly, the highest theft rates were always in the law and theology libraries.

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