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PRINTED BOOKS, BOOK/TRADE, LIBRARIES 567
into nine distinctiones, designated by the nine first letters of the
alphabet, each being divided into sevengradus numbered with
Roman figures. Each entry in the catalogue has six divisions
(see PL 1240): the first gives the shel&mark A. v. i (Case A,
shelf v, book i); the second, the book (an old glossed Psalter);
the third, the leafon which certain opening words, selected for
the identification ofthe volume, occur (i.e. on leaf 6); the fourth,
the two first words on that leaf (apprebendite disci); the fifth, the
number of leaves in the volume (i.e. 105); and the sixth, the
number of works contained in the volume (viz. one).
The provision ofa special building for a library seems not to
be found before the fourteenth century. The aspect favoured by
the early builder of collegiate libraries was one with the walls
facing east and west, so that advantage might be taken of the
morning sun, light rather than warmth being essential to the
student. With the decline of asceticism and a greater
desire for
physical comfort a warmer aspect was often chosen. The light'
ing of the building was secured by lancet windows placed
closely together.
The earliest libraries were probably fitted up with bookcases
in the shape of lecterns, to which the books were chained on
either side. When books and readers were few this was con'
venient enough, but, when they multiplied, the lecterns became
crowded and one reader hindered another. The development of
the lectern was a case (still having counters on either side) with
a flat top, above which two or three shelves were fixed. Along
the shelves ran a rod, to which were attached chains, the other
ends ofwhich were secured to the manuscripts. This method,
which has been styled the stall system, naturally accommodated
a much larger number of books and left the counters free for
those actually in use. The practice of fitting cases against the
walls ofa library and carrying them from floor to ceiling is in
The Arts
England a late development of library economy.
End (1612) of the Bodleian Library at Oxford is the earliest
example ofthe style in this country.
No early example of the lectern system any longer exists in
England. The lecterns at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, probably