It was a separate institution from the
monastery, and had its own endowments and priests.
Bishop Carpenter's foundation was probably entirely
separate from the collection of books kept for
the use of the monks in the cloister."[2] At the
same time, the bishop made regulations for the use
of the library. The keeper was to be a graduate in
theology, and a good preacher. He was to live in the
chantry, where a dwelling had been erected for him at the
end of the library. Among other duties he had to take
care of the books. The library was to be open to the
public every week day for two hours before Nones (or nine),
and for two hours after Nones. This alone was a most
liberal regulation, for making which Bishop Carpenter
deserves all honour. But he went still further. When
asked to do so the keeper was to explain difficult passages
of Scripture, and once a week was to deliver a public
lecture in the library. The Bishop's idea of a library is
precisely that embodied in the modern town library: a
collection of good books, for the free use of the public, with
some personal help to the proper use of them when
necessary.
Pages:
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190