Wimborne Minster Chained Library

Last updated 11th February 2005 
Name of library  Wimborne Minster Chained Library
Address Garden House, Cuthburga Road, Wimborne Minster, Dorset BH21 1LH 
Telephone 01202 887681 
Fax  
E-mail  
Website  
Alternative names  
Contact & Job Title  Mrs. Judith L. Monds or Mr. Frank Tandy (01202 840642)
Purpose & main user community of the library Set up as one of the first public libraries in 1686 and still open to the public on a regular basis. 
Terms of access  We are open from Easter Monday until the end of October each year at the times stated below. Special Collections appointments are sometimes made.
Opening hours M-F 10.30-12.30, 14.00-16.00; Sa 10.30-12.30, in season, and weddings permitting. 
Disabled access  26 step spiral staircase (left-handed defence). Plans are in hand for display downstairs.
Lending to other libraries & visitors  No. None.
Number of volumes  Over 400
Periodicals – Back Issues  
Current Periodicals  
Other materials  One complete manuscript dated 1343 and some further pages. Music manuscripts also.
Volumes added per year  One
Coverage  The library contains an excellent theological content.
Special Collections  Early English Organ music, including works by Giibons, Purcell, Tallis, Weelkes, and Bird.
Manuscripts  Our only full Ms is ‘The Regimen Animarum’ or Direction of Souls, Completed in 1343. Some fragments of earlier works exist.
Research resource  Almost every Christian religious thought occurs within our books.
Catalogue Type  Card
URL of catalogue  
Other facilities  Photocopying occasionally permitted. Some of the music is on microfilm, but we have no reading in the library. The works can be accessed at the Pendlebury Music Library
Full Time Staff  
Part Time Staff  
Voluntary Staff  36
Changes in next five years affecting the above  An exhibition for those unable to negotiate the stairs is planned for 2004.
Anything else about the library  The library is manned by a team of volunteers and receives no governemnt or other funding. Donations (usually c. 50p per adult visitor) are therefore appreciated.