Three Centuries of a City Library: an Historical and Descriptive Account of the Norwich Public Library Established in 1608 and the present Public Library opened in 1857 — John Shaqi
Three Centuries of a City Library: an Historical and Descriptive Account of the Norwich Public Library Established in 1608 and the present Public Library opened in 1857Stephen, Geo. A. (George Arthur)
History
Three Centuries of a City Library: an Historical and Descriptive Account of the Norwich Public Library Established in 1608 and the present Public Library opened in 1857
Stephen, Geo. A. (George Arthur)
Norwich (England). Public Libraries
Mackerell's remarks, and the fact that the Minute Book was not filled,
seem to indicate that the Library was neglected for some years. On
September 21st, 1801, the Assembly complied with the request of the
Committee of a subscription library, with the misnomer "Public Library"
(established in 1784 in St. Andrew's Hall) by granting them leave "to
have the use of the books in the City Library, to be kept under the care
of their Librarian apart from other books, the President giving a receipt
for the safe return of the same on demand." {13b} The City Committee
reported to the Assembly in 1805 "that the books in the City Library have
not of late been carefully preserved, that some valuable works have been
mutilated and others lost or mislaid." {13c} The Assembly thereupon
rescinded the order of September 21st, 1801, requested the President and
Committee of the "Public Library" to "make good all losses and injuries,"
and committed the custody of the City Library to the Steward. In 1815
the City Library was again entrusted to the "Public Library." Ten years
afterwards, the "Public Library," which still housed the City Library,
was removed to a building in St. Andrew's Street. The admission fee to
this Library in 1825, as stated in the Catalogue of the Library of that
date, was five guineas, and the annual subscription was one guinea. This
Catalogue contains the following rules regarding the City Library:
"LIV. The books belonging to the City Library having been deposited
in the Library Room of the Public Library, by permission of the
Corporation, are accessible to the subscribers, and may be delivered
out under a written order of the president, or vice-president,
countersigned by an officer of the Corporation.
"LV. The Librarian shall have charge of the books belonging to the
City Library, and shall procure the necessary authority for the
delivery of books to subscribers applying for them.
"LVI. The books belonging to the City Library shall be returned to
the Librarian every quarter day; and the same fines and penalties
shall apply to subscribers not attending to this regulation, or to
losing, lending or injuring books belonging to the City Library,
which are laid down by the laws for the protection of the books
belonging to the Public Library."
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