The librije is a public library which, since 1561, has been housed in St. Walburga’s Church in Zutphen, itself dating to the 11th century. Most of the original collection of books are still located onsite. Some books have been chained to the reading desks since the time of foundation, making the librije one of only five chained libraries worldwide to have survived with their original furniture, chains and books.
Grote – of Sint Walburgskerk: Interieur librije, black-and-white photograph, Zutphen, without date, photographer: J.G. Kramer; source: Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, rijksmonument number 41195, http://beeldbank.cultureelerfgoed.nl/afbeelding/20327384; Wikimedia Commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Interieur_librije_-_Zutphen_-_20327384_-_RCE.jpg. Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Netherlands.