[Picture: Norwich Public Library. Foundation Stone Laid 13th September, 1854. Library Opened 16th March, 1857] The initiator of the library movement in Norwich apparently was Mr. Thomas Brightwell, a man of scientific tastes, who was Mayor of the City in 1837. At the Council meeting held on September 13th, 1850, he drew attention to the new act, and, according to the first annual report of the Library, he "presented a strongly worded memorial signed by 600 persons." He succeeded in carrying his motion that the Mayor be directed to ascertain the feeling of the citizens as to whether the provisions of the new act should be adopted, and a poll of the burgesses was taken on September 27th, when 150 voted in favour of the adoption of the act while only 7 voted against it. The act provided that a rate of one halfpenny in the pound might be levied for library purposes, but no provision was made for buying books. In 1855 this act was repealed by another, which remained the principal library act for England and Wales until 1892; it allowed one penny in the pound to be levied, and provided for the purchase of books. After the adoption of the act the Council appointed committees for making all the necessary arrangements for the establishment of a Library, and it received reports from them in 1851, 1852, and 1853. By September 1854 two levies of the halfpenny rate had been made amounting to 500 pounds, and with that sum in hand the Corporation ventured to purchase the library site, and to approve the architectural plans, prepared by the City Surveyor, Mr. Edward Everett Benest. The first stone of the building was laid on September 13th, 1854, by the Mayor, Sir Samuel Bignold, who lent 4,000 pounds for the erection of the building, and worked assiduously to promote the Library. The ceremony was reported at length in the _Norfolk Chronicle_ of September 16th, 1854, from which the following extracts are taken: "The ceremony of laying the first stone took place on Wednesday afternoon, in the presence of a large concourse of spectators. The ground had been decorated for the occasion with numerous flags, banners, and devices in flowers and foliage, and amongst the most conspicuous of the mottoes was one complimentary to the Mayor, bearing the words 'Bignold for ever!' surmounted by 'The Queen and Constitution,' with 'Trade and Manufactures' on the right and 'Commerce and Agriculture' on the left. In a convenient position a platform had been erected for the express accommodation of the fairer portion of the spectators. As the time for the performance of the ceremony drew nigh all the neighbouring approaches to the spot were densely crowded; every window within sight of the ground had its full share of occupants, and daring spirits had even ventured to take up their position on the surrounding walls and house-tops.