When all books were
returned, others were issued, and a new record made. In
some monasteries the abbot would question the monks on
the books they had read, to test their knowledge of them,
and whenever the answers were unsatisfactory would lend
the same books again instead of fresh ones. As a rule
only one book was issued at a time, so that the monk had
plenty of time to digest its contents. In Carthusian houses
two books were lent at a time. Sick brethren were freely
permitted to borrow books for their solace, but such books
were returned to the library nightly, at lighting-up time.
Among the Cluniacs it was the custom to take stock of
the books given out to the monks once a year; while the
Franciscans kept a register of their books, and every year
it was read and corrected before the convent in assembly.[1]
[1] Mon. Fr., ii. 91.
An excellent example of a stocktaking record made
at Christ Church, Canterbury, has been preserved. The
inspection took place in 1337. First are recorded the
books missing from the two "demonstrations," as recorded
"in magnis tabulis," e.g.,
Primo: deficit liber Transfiguratus in Crucifixum, ad
quem est in nota Frater W.
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