The chain was connected to the book by means of a metal ring inserted into the cover or corner, since if the chain is attached to the spine of the book, then the wear of the folio will be much greater. Books on chains stood on the shelves with their spines away from the visitor, that is, "wrong" from the point of view of a modern librarian - the spines of the books standing on the shelf were not visible. The book was placed in such a way that it could be taken and opened without turning over and without getting tangled in chains.
The Francis Trigge Chain Library, founded in 1598 in Grantham, is the oldest library of its kind, allowing access to books to persons not related to the clergy or education. In particular, the townspeople of Grantham and the Sokmen had access there. The library still exists and can be called the forerunner of the modern public library system. Another example of a library that existed separately from an educational institution, church or monastery is the Marsh Library, founded in Dublin in 1701. The library is still located in the same building in which it was first opened.