Wimborne Minster’s chained library is set to open for a new season after a record year with nearly 9,000 visitors.
The library, which was founded in 1686, was reportedly one of the first public libraries in the country and the second largest chain library.
A spokesperson for the chained library said: “The first donation came from Reverend William Stone, who had seen many religious books like his being burnt by the authorities, and wanted to ensure that part of his collection would be kept safe in Wimborne.
“These theological books were in Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and so must have been used mainly by the clergy; they were not chained.
“When another local donor, Roger Gillingham, gave another 90 books in 1695, he insisted that the books be chained up, but also that the library should be opened, free, for the people of the town, providing they were ‘shopkeepers or the better class of person’.”
The library is now ready to welcome back visitors.
A spokesperson for the library said: “Last year was a record year for us with nearly 9,000 visitors.
“As well as schools and scout groups, we also had academics and researchers using our library to further their studies and understanding of the past- the true and historic meaning of our library as envisaged by our founders , Reverend William Stone and Mr Roger Gillingham, two local Wimborne boys and pupils at the Queen Elizabeth’s School.”
The season runs from March 30 to October 31, with their opening hours from 10:30am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 4pm, with the first and third Saturday mornings of April, May, June and October, and new to this year, every Saturday morning in July, August and September.