Further remarks on the policy of lending Bodleian printed books and manuscripts

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Further remarks on the policy of lending Bodleian printed books and manuscripts

(4 User reviews) 686

By Aiden Mancini Posted on Jan 17, 2026

In Category - Interior Design

Authors: Chandler, Henry W. (Henry William), 1828-1889 Published By : Chandler, Henry W. (Henry William), 1828-1889

Book Language: English

Okay, hear me out. I just read a 19th-century pamphlet that's basically a high-stakes, gloves-off academic cage match. The title is a snooze-fest: 'Further remarks on the policy of lending Bodleian printed books and manuscripts.' But don't let that fool you. This is the story of Henry W. Chandler, a librarian at Oxford's legendary Bodleian Library, absolutely losing his mind over a simple question: Should they let books leave the building? On one side, you have traditionalists who think letting a single volume out the door is an act of cultural vandalism. On the other, reformers who think knowledge should be shared. Chandler is leading the charge for the 'lock-em-up-forever' team, and his arguments are so passionate, so detailed, and so wonderfully grumpy that you can practically see his mustache quivering with outrage. It's a tiny book about a huge fight over who gets to own knowledge. Trust me, it's way more dramatic than it sounds.

File: Further remarks on the policy of lending Bodleian printed books and manuscripts

So, what's this little book actually about? Picture the Bodleian Library at Oxford in the 1800s: a fortress of knowledge, with ancient rules stating that no book could ever be borrowed. It was a treasure chest you could only look at, not take home. Then, some people started asking, 'What if we... lent them out? Just to other scholars? Carefully?' This idea sent shockwaves through the university.

The Story

This isn't a novel with a plot, but the conflict is crystal clear. Henry W. Chandler, a librarian, wrote this as his fiery contribution to the debate. He's not just presenting a mild opinion; he's mounting a full-scale defense of the old way. The 'story' is his meticulous, point-by-point argument against lending. He lists every possible disaster: books getting lost, damaged by candle smoke, stolen, or simply worn out. He argues that the library's core duty is to preserve texts for centuries, not for a single reader's convenience. Every paragraph is another brick in his wall, built to keep the books safely inside.

Why You Should Read It

You should read it because it makes you think hard about something we take for granted. Today, we get frustrated if a library book has a two-day wait on the app. Chandler's world is the polar opposite. His passion is for preservation over access, and seeing that mindset laid out so earnestly is fascinating. It’s also weirdly humanizing. Behind the formal language, you sense a real person who is genuinely terrified of change and deeply, personally invested in protecting these physical objects. It’s a snapshot of a professional's anxiety, frozen in time. You end up respecting his dedication, even if you totally disagree with his conclusion.

Final Verdict

This is a niche gem, but a gem nonetheless. It's perfect for history buffs who love peeking into the specific, oddball conflicts of the past, or for anyone in libraries, archives, or publishing who will find the professional arguments from 1889 strangely familiar. It's also great for readers who enjoy seeing a well-crafted, passionate argument, even if it's for a cause that seems outdated. Don't expect a thrilling narrative, but do expect to be pulled into a very real, very high-stakes (for librarians) philosophical brawl.