Hec rosa virtutis de celo missa sereno Eternum Florens regia sceptra feret

which has been rendered:

Virtue's a rose, which born of heaven's clear ray Shall ever flourish and bear kingly sway.

In the upper left-hand corner of the panel is the cross of St. George on an escutcheon, and in the right-hand corner the arms of the city of London, indicating that the binder was a citizen. Underneath the rose is the mark of the London binder, G.G., who was one of the noteworthy binders to use these panel stamps at the beginning of the sixteenth century.

Several of the bindings are adorned with rectangular panels formed by fillets and bands, the enclosed space being divided, after the German system, into lozenge-shaped compartments. Two such examples are the following. The first is the binding of "Cathena aurea super Psalmos ex dictis sanctorum" (Paris: Jehan Petit, 1520). The rectangular frame is formed by vertical and horizontal three-line fillets, and adorned with a roll-stamp representing a hound, a falcon, and a bee, amid sprays of foliage and flowers. Above the hound is the binder's mark composed of the letters I.R, i.e., John Reynes, a notable London binder of the earlier part of the 16th century. The enclosed panel is divided by three-line fillets, forming four lozenge-shaped and eight triangular compartments stamped with a foliated ornament. The second example is the binding of an edition in Latin of Plato's Works, printed by Jodocus Badius Ascensius in 1518. The rectangular frame is formed by parallel vertical and horizontal fillets intersecting each other at right-angles, and adorned with a roll-stamp representing a portcullis, a pomegranate, a griffin, a Tudor rose, a hound, and a crown. The enclosed panel is divided by diagonal three-line fillets forming four lozenge-shaped and eight triangular compartments, stamped with foliated ornaments. The Library now contains about 2,000 volumes.



THE LIBRARIANS.

When the Library was organised in 1656 it was made a condition of membership that being duly chosen thereto a member should discharge the office of Library-Keeper "not above once in seaven yeares." The Library-Keeper elected in that year was Mr., afterwards Dr., John Collinges, a well-known Presbyterian divine, who was a prolific writer and a keen controversialist. Apparently the office was to be held for a year, and the first three Library-Keepers held the office for that period, but afterwards the usual period was two years. The Minute Book records the appointment of the following thirty-six Library Keepers who held office during the years 1656 to 1731: John Collinges, 1656-57; John Whitefoote, 1658-59;—Harmar, 1660-61; George Cock, 1662;—Smith, 1664; Thomas Morley, 1667; Ben Snowden, 1669;—Norgate, 1671: [Benedict] Rively, 1673; [Jo:] Watson, 1675; Dr. Jon Elsworth, 1677; [Thomas] Studd, 1679; [William] Cecil, 1681; John Whitefoote, the younger, (Mr. Painter was chosen but declined to serve), 1682; [John] Jeffery, [Archdeacon of Norwich] 1683; [Jo:] Shaw, 1685-86; John Pitts, 1687-89; Ẉ Adamson, (Burges was chosen but declined to serve), 1690-91; [John] Graile, 1692; [John] Richardson, 1694-96; [Joseph] Ellis, 1696-97; [Isa:] Girling, 1698; [Tho:] Clayton, 1699; [John] Barker, 1700; [Edward] Riveley, 1702; [Joseph] Brett, 1704; [John] Havett, 1706-07; Ẉ Herne, 1708-09; [Sam:] Jones, 1710-11; [Francis] Fayerman, 1712; [Sam: or John] Clark, 1713-14; [John] Brand, 1715-16; [Sam.] Salter, 1719;—Morrant, (John Fox was chosen but declined to serve), 1722-23; Benjamin Mackerell, 1724-31; William Pagan, 1731. Benjamin Mackerell, who held the office from 1724 to 1731, is the best-known of the Library-Keepers. He wrote a History of King's Lynn, which was published in the year of his death, 1738, and several works relating to Norwich, which are still in manuscript; Mr. Gordon Goodwin, the writer of his biography in the "Dictionary of National Biography," says Mackerell was "an accurate, painstaking antiquary, and left work of permanent value." Although he compiled the second edition of the catalogue during his extended tenure of office, his services were either not appreciated, or the members thought that the rule regarding the period of office should not be indefinitely ignored, for on December 6th, 1731, the following memorandum was made: "It was then Order'd by the psons whose Names are above written that Peter Scott wait upon Mr. Mackerell, Library Keeper, and desire him to meet them the next Library day; they intending to proceed to the Election of a new one The time for such Election being long since lapsed."

The office of Library Keeper was an honorary one, a condition that agrees with the opinion expressed by John Dury in his "Reformed Librarie-Keeper" published in 1650, but it is doubtful whether the Library Keepers fulfilled all his other qualifications: "His work then is to bee a Factor and Trader for helps to Learning, and a Treasurer to keep them, and a dispenser to applie them to use, or to see them well used, or at least not abused." {43} The duties of the Library Keeper appear to have included general responsibility for the Library, the cataloguing of the Library, and the recording of the donations in the Vellum Book provided for the purpose. To relieve the Library Keeper of the routine part of his charge, an Under Library Keeper was appointed from time to time. The sixth condition to which members had to subscribe from 1656 included a promise to "pay our proportions to ye under-Keeper of ye said Library quarterly." This "proportion" was 12d. upon admission, and 12d. quarterly, and was the Under-Library-Keeper's remuneration for services rendered. This payment was still in force when the regulations were revised in 1732, and were specifically provided for in the first "Article." The Minute Book constantly records payments of arrears due to the Under Library Keeper, showing that many of the Members were very dilatory in their payments. Some of the Library Keepers were also dilatory in their repayments to him of incidental expenses. On April 1st, 1690, a memorandum was made "That Mr. Pitts is this day discharged from ye office of Library Keeper, and is endebted to ye under=Library=Keeper for his 2 years for fire, candle, pipes, pens, ink, & paper, nine shillings," and on Feb. 16th, 1699, it was recorded that the Library Keeper, "Mr. Girling owe to the vnder libarey keeper for three years and A half Fourten shillings 00ll-14s-00d."

Provision was made for relieving members from the obligation to assume the office in their turn, upon payment of a fine. On March 6th, 1682/3 "Mr. Painter being chosen Library keeper for this yeare desired upon the paymt of 20sh to the use of the library according to the order in that case made to be excused and he was dismissed from his office, and Mr. John Whitefoot the younger was chosen library keeper for the same yeare in his stead."

The Library was under the care of William Sayer, the Librarian of the "Public Library," from 1801 to 1805, when it was committed to the custody of the Steward. The Library was again entrusted to the "Public Library" in 1815, and came under the care of its librarian Richard Langton, until 1833, when he was succeeded by Edward Langton, who retained the office until the Library was housed at the Free Library in 1862. Henceforth the books came under the charge of the following Librarians to the Corporation for the periods stated: Mr. George Harper, 1862-76, Mr. George Easter, 1877-1900, Mr. J. Geo. Tennant, 1901-11, and Mr. Geo. A. Stephen, 1911-.



DONATION BOOK AND CATALOGUES.

The first reference in the Minute Book to a catalogue is under date 8th June, 1657: "The library keeper this day brought in catalogues of the books wch were affixed. Sixpence was ordered to bee given to a boy for pasting up the Catalogues." It may perhaps be assumed that these catalogues were written lists which were displayed in the Library.

At the meeting on Jan. 11th, 1657, an order was given for "a book consisting of 3 qrs of thick venice paper, to be bound up to make a book to contain Catalogues of the bookes in the library," and "Mr. Collinges was desired to keep the office of library keeper untill the aforesaid book be bought and the Catalogues made."

On Dec. 13th, 1658 "The library keeper brought in a paper book ruled containing a Classicall and an alphabetical catalogue of all ye bookes in the library" . . . "He further informed them that hee had laid out 3s for paper and 4s. for ye ruling & binding ye said book, in all 7s wch is more then he received 2s 10d. That he had procured 2 catalogues to be wrote in it fairly, that for ye catalogue of Comentators it was begun & should before ye next meeting be pfected by his own hand." This book has fortunately been preserved, and is in good state. It is a folio volume, measuring 13.5 by 9.5 inches, and is in three sections. The first section is a classified catalogue of the books on the east side of the Library, which were arranged in two groups of sizes, (1) Folio, divided into ten classes, and (2) Quarto and Octavo, divided into four classes. At first an attempt was made to classify the books according to subjects, the classification of the folios being I Bibles; II and III Old Commentaries, etc.; IVa Theology, IVb History; V Canon Law; VI The Fathers; VII Lexicons, Dictionaries, etc.; VIII Reformation Commentaries; IX Ecclesiastical History; X Miscellaneous. The four classes in the quarto and octavo section were not grouped according to subjects. A heading was started in the catalogue for a classification of the books on the west side, but that part of the work was not done. The second section is an author catalogue of the books with two columns, the numbers in the first column denoting the class and those in the second the book. The third section of the catalogue, ruled in double columns, has a heading in Latin, to this effect: "Catalogue of the authors whose books are to be found in the Library of Norwich, who either illustrated the whole book of Sacred Scripture or any part of it with their most illuminating annotations or commentaries. The column towards the left indicates the authors who have written on the whole Book, the other indicates those who have written on any part of it." Following the names of the authors are the class and book numbers.

At the meeting on July 11th, 1659, "The library keep brought in a Catalogue of the bookes & Benefactors names fairly written in a parchment booke; For the wrighting wherof hee pd to the cleark 7s; For the repaymt of wch monye it was aggreed every minister should pay viijd: wch monye was paid by as many as were then present." This catalogue or "Donation Book" is a folio volume measuring 14 3/4 by 9.5 inches, and is bound in rough calf, with three small brass clasps. Later, in the Minute Book it is generally referred to as the Vellum Book. In it are entered in chronological order the names of the donors, the date of each gift, brief author and title entries of the books, and frequently their date and place of publication. The entries are all very clearly written, from the date of the first donation in 1608, the year of inauguration, to 1737. Facsimiles of the title-page, with the initials "J.S." in the lower corners, and two typical pages face this page. The lettering of these pages is characteristic of the period, and shows the decadence of the art of manuscript writing.

[Picture: The Vellum Book. Title-page and two other pages of the Donation Book begun in 1659]

In the "Extracts from the Court Books of the City of Norwich, 1666-1688," edited by Mr. Walter Rye, there is one on Jan. 15, 1669, stating that "Mr. Thos. Morly, clerk, keeper of the Library of the City, brought in a catalogue of all the books there," but there is no reference to this in the Library Minute Book. On January 12th, 1673, however, the ministers "did appoynt yt Mr Norgate should agt their next meeting bring in a Catalogue of the Bookes to be dd to the Court and yt he shall see yt the Bookes given to the Library in his time be fayrely written in the Vellam-booke appoynted to yt purpose." It is evident, therefore, that reports regarding the stock of books had to be made to the Court.

The first printed catalogue was an author catalogue, with brief particulars of about 923 volumes, and was printed in 1706/7. On December 3rd, 1706, it was "Ordered then that ye Alphabeticall Catalogue of ye City Library be printed by the Widow Burges," and on February 4th, 1706/7, when Joseph Brett was Library Keeper he "brought in the Catalogue of Books, printed, wch cost two pds sixteen shillings & three pence & he was allow'd also a shilling for printing an advertisement." This catalogue, which is exceedingly scarce, {47} is entitled "A Catalogue of the Books in the Library of the City of Norwich in the year 1706." It is a crown 8vo volume, consisting of 38 pages. The catalogue proper is preceded by an alphabetical list of the benefactors to the Library, giving the dates of their donations, and abbreviations of their surnames, (e.g., Ad. for Adamson, All. for Allen). The entries in the catalogue are extremely brief, and frequently occupy only one line. Each entry is preceded by an abbreviation for the author's name, and is followed by the class and book numbers.

In the preface it was confessed that while the catalogue would be useful to the members of the Library, the "great motive, and main end of Publishing this Catalogue was to encourage donations to the Library." Possessors of the catalogue were recommended to interleave it with "spare paper, on which may be added such books as shall be given, it may serve for many Years, even till the number of Books here be doubled, which when, (as is greatly to be wished for) it shall be, a new Edition of the Catalogue may be expected."

The cost of the catalogue involved the members in debt. Under the date May 2nd, 1709, in the Minute Book is the following memorandum: "It is this day Agreed by us whose Names are underwritten yt ye fourteen shillings & three pence now paid by Mr Herne the present library keeper to Mr Joseph Brett to clear his disbursemts for catalogus &c for ye service of ye Library shal be repaid ye said Mr Herne by the succeeding Library keeper upon his Election unles paid before." A further memorandum dated May 6th, 1709, shows that a book was sold to raise the money: "Recd of the Under-library keeper Fourteen Shillings for Sr Waltr Raileigh: A super-numerary book sold to Mr. Lillington by order of the Society which is towds ye discharge of the above sd 14s 3d paid to Mr. Brett by me. W. Herne."

The second edition of the author catalogue was compiled by Benjamin Mackerell, the late Library Keeper, and published in 1732, the preface being dated April 15th, 1732. Mackerell closely followed the plan of the previous catalogue, using part of the preface for his "Dedication" "To the Right Worshipful Robert Marsh, Esqr; Mayor, The Worshipful The Sheriffs, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of Norwich." The entries are limited to one line each, and there is a column showing the sizes. The catalogue consisting of 54 printed pages, and measuring 8.5 by 6.5 inches, is entitled "A New Catalogue of the Books in the Publick Library of the City of Norwich, in the year 1732, to which is added, An Account of the Orders prescribed by the Court and Common Council for the regulation of the same, together with an account of Mr. John Kirkpatrick's Roman and Other Coins," printed by William Chase, in the Cockey Lane. Neither of the two copies of this catalogue in the Library contains the account of Kirkpatrick's coins, and Mr. F. Kitton, the compiler of the 1883 catalogue, had not seen a copy containing it. As all the pages of the catalogue except the last one have a catchword it is reasonable to assume that the account of the coins was not included.

The next catalogue was published in 1817 as a supplement to that of the "Public Library" where the City Library was housed. Unfortunately the present writer has been unable to trace a copy of this catalogue, which, however, is recorded in Samuel Woodward's "Norfolk Topographer's Manual," 1842: "A Catalogue of Books belonging to the Norwich City Library, which, by permission of the Corporation, are now deposited in the Norwich Public-Library Room; 35 pp., 8 vo. Norwich (1817)." This catalogue, according to a paragraph in the Catalogue of the Public Library, 1825, had an "alphabetical arrangement, in divisions of languages and sizes." Perhaps this catalogue served as the "copy" for the catalogue of the City Library which is printed at the end of the "Second Catalogue of the Library of the Norfolk and Norwich Literary Institution," 1825, pp. 105-137, as its arrangement is by languages and sizes. This arrangement not being "calculated to be conveniently accessible" it was deemed advisable by the Committee of the Public Library that "it should be subjected to the same scientific arrangement as the books which are the property of the Public Library; and in order to prevent the obvious inconvenience of two references, the Committee have included both sets of works under the same arrangement, distinguishing those which are the property of the Corporation . . . by a prominent and appropriate designation," i.e., the letters C. L. in black letter. This catalogue is a classified catalogue with the following nine classes, seven of which are subdivided, and the arrangement in each class is alphabetical by authors' names: I. Theology; II. Ethics, Metaphysics, and Logic; III. Sciences and the Arts; IV. Jurisprudence, Government, and Politics; V. History and Biography; VI. Geography, Topography, Voyages and Travels; VII. Polite Literature and Philology; VIII. Poetry and Dramatic Works, Novels and Romances; IX. Transactions of Literary and Scientific Societies, Reviews, Magazines and Reports.

A new edition of the Public Library Catalogue was published in 1847, the arrangement being the same as in the preceding one.

The Library books having been repaired in 1879 and 1880, the City Committee decided in 1882 to issue a new catalogue, with the view of making the books accessible to the citizens. The work of compiling the catalogue was entrusted to Mr. Frederic Kitton, Hon. F.R.M.S., an eminent microscopist of his day, who resided in Norwich for many years, but who apparently had no bibliographical knowledge or library experience. This appointment was made in the days when it was the common fashion to regard the work of compiling a library catalogue as within the capacity of any intelligent person; whereas there are, in fact, many rules to be observed, and much practical experience is necessary if the thousand and one pitfalls which beset the path of the cataloguer are to be avoided. The catalogue {50a} was on much more ambitious lines than its predecessors, and the compiler claimed to "have carefully copied the title pages, retaining their abbreviations, antique spelling, inaccuracies, or other peculiarities." An examination of it, however, shows that it abounds in inaccuracies, and exhibits most of the errors that can be made in an author catalogue. A catalogue of the City Library compiled in accordance with modern bibliographical practice is still a desideratum.



THE QUARTERS OF THE LIBRARY.

The first home of the Library, as stated on page 4, was parcel of the dwelling house of Jerrom Goodwyne, the sword-bearer of the City. This house was built over the south porch of the Church of the Black Friars, now known as St. Andrew's Hall, which had been acquired by the City at the Dissolution. It is clearly shewn in the frontispiece, which is a reproduction of Daniel King's engraving of Black Friars' Hall, probably executed about 1650. The Local Collection contains two copies of the engraving which have different plate numbers: one, numbered 78, is from the edition of Dugdale's "Monasticon" published in 1718, but the book from which the other one, numbered 50, was taken, has not been traced.

Writing in 1857 Henry Harrod remarked that "If the view engraved by King correctly represents this house, it was by no means an ornamental feature; still it was as good as the far more pretentious structure which has replaced it." {50b}

In regard to the building of this house Kirkpatrick gives an extract from a record of 34th Henry VIII, showing that the city granted to John Kempe, the chaplain, "in consideration that he, of his benevolence hath bestowed about the buylding of a lodgyng with three chambers, over the porch of the house, late the black friars, now the common hall of the city, and on either side of the same porch, above sixty pounds;—that, therefore, the said J. Kempe shall have the same lodgyng, with the office called the Chapleyn of the Chappell, belonging to the said hall called, St. John's Chapel, with all the oblacions; also, liberty of the garden and yard called the prechyng-yard." {51}

The first of the few entries in the Minute Book regarding the library rooms shows that the books were not too well protected from the elements, for on 10th August, 1657, "Mr. Collinges gaue an acct of 1s. laid out for coale and wood for the drying of ye bookes harmed by ye raine."

From the instructions, in Latin, to the Librarian which are set out in the classified and alphabetical catalogue of 1658 we learn that the library was arranged in two parts, East and West, and that the books were classified. "On the East part the treasury of the books is double, major and minor. The larger part is divided into ten classes folio. The smaller has only four classes of books in 4to and 8vo. The numbering of all classes must always be begun from the bottom. On the West part the treasury of books is single, arranged in five larger classes. Here the number must always be reckoned from the top."

In 1664 the development of the Library necessitated the enlargement of the accommodation, and on 11th July "All the minrs. present agreed in a petition to ye Mayr Sherriffs Aldn. &c in Court of Comon Councell for ye addition of a roome to ye library, and ye better shelving of it. They further desired Mr. George Cock and Mr. Beresford to present ye petition to ye Comon Councell at their next assembly. Mr. Chamberlain hauing first viewed ye roome & computed ye charge." On the 12th January 1673 the members decided to petition the Court for removing some wainscot doors, and on March 9th it was recorded that by order of the Court of Assembly "we haue also leaue to take downe ye waynscott Doores wch now conceale the Bookes."

The Library was removed about 1801, when it was lent to the "Public Library" (see p. 13), to a building formerly a Roman Catholic Chapel, in what is now St. Andrew's Street, which afterwards became a portion of the old Museum Building, now the offices of the Norwich Guardians. In 1835 the City Library, still on loan to the "Public Library," went with it to its new building in the Market Place opposite the north door of the Guildhall, on the site of its successor, the present Norfolk and Norwich Subscription Library. The City Library returned to the direct control of the Corporation in 1862, and was housed in the present Public Library building then recently erected.

DONATIONS TO THE CITY LIBRARY, 1608-1737. (Extracted from the Vellum Book.)

DATE. DONOR. VOLS. 1608 Pettus, Sir John, 15 Knt., Alderman of Norwich 1608 Downing, Mrs. 3 Susannah, wife of Alderman George Downing 1609 Corye, Mr. Thomas, 10 Merchant 1609 Hirne, Sir Thomas, 12 Knt. 1609/10 Corbett, Thomas, Esq. 6 1609/10 Doyly, Henry, Esq. 2 1610 Doyly, Charles, Gent. 11 1610 Sedgwick, Robert, 12 Merchant 1610 Peade, Michael, 2 Notary Public and Registrar to the Archdeacon of Norwich 1610 Mingay, John, Gent. 2 1610 Pettus, Augustine, 4 Son and heir of the said [Sir] John [Pettus] Howlett, Laurence, 1 S.T.B., Minister of St. Andrew's 1611 Newhowse, Thomas, 4 A.M., & Minister of God's Word 1611 Hannam, William, 3 Gent., A.M. 1612/3 Garsett, Robert, Esq. 7 1613 Blowe, Joanna, widow 4 1613 Thurston, Hamond, 3 Merchant 1613 Peckover, Mathew, 3 late Sheriff of Norwich 1614 Launey, Peter, 2 Minister of the Walloon Church [in Norwich] Wells, William, 5 Theologiae Baccalaureus Throkmorton, 2 Bassingbourne 1614 Cropp, John, 4 Physician and Surgeon Bird, Henry 1 1615 Ross, Richard, Gent., 1 late Sheriff of Norwich 1614 Barbar, Gabriel, 11 Gent., in the name of the Society of Virginia 1616/7 Nutting, Edward, late 5 Sheriff of Norwich 1616/7 Batho, William, B.T. 1 1617 Anguish, John, Gent., 7 and Citizen 1617 Anguish, Edmund, 9 Gent. 1617 Catelyn, Thomas, Esq. 7 Corbett, Anne, widow 1 of Thomas Corbett, Esq. 1618 Atkins, Thomas, 5 pounds and 7 Merchant, Norwich 1621 Scottowe, Augustine 17 Gallard, Robert, 1 formerly minister of St. Andrew's 1625/6 Page, Francis 1 1628 City of Norwich 1 Remington, Nathaniel, 4 Alderman [of Norwich] 1631 Borage, John 7 1633 Chapman, Samuel, 2 Merchant 1633 Barret, Thomas, 2 Merchant 1634 Mingay, Antony, Gent. 11 Mingay, Mrs., Widow 7 1634 Freeman, John Map of Canaan 1634 Blosse, Prudence, 8 Widow, Relict of Alderman T. Blosse Chappell, John, 4 S.T.B., Minister of St. Andrew's 1658 Payne, Joseph, 20 pounds and 1 Alderman [afterwards Sir] Thornback, John, 1 Minister of St. Andrew's Stinett, William, 7 S.T.B., Rector of St. John Maddermarket 1658/9 Collinges, John, 1 pounds and 6 S.T.: Dr. [1657] Whitefoote, John, 4 Rector of Heigham, next Norwich 1659 Brooke, Thomasine, 29 {53a} Widow & Relict of Wm. Brooke, Gent. [1659] Allen, Thomas 1 [1659/60] City of Norwich 6 1661 Payne, Sir Joseph, 16 Knt., late Mayor of this City Scottowe, Augustine, 7 {53b} Merchant. [1661] Smyth, John, Rector 1 of St. Michael Coslany [1661] Barret, Thomas 5 {53c} 1662 Norris, Francis, 14 Citizen and Alderman [of Norwich] [1664] Morley, Thomas, 2 Curate of St. Peter Hungate 1664 Mann, John, Citizen 38 and Alderman [of Norwich] 1665 Fromentell, Samuel, 1 Citizen 1666 Meene, Joshua, 3 formerly Curate of St. Peter Per Moutergate 1666 Browne, [Sir] Thomas, 9 Professor of Medicine 1668 and 1673 Oliver, William, 2 Bookseller 1673 Cock, George, Curate 18 of St. Peter of Mancroft 1671-1676 Barnham, John, 5 Citizen 1673 Norris, Anthony, 3 Merchant of Norwich [1674] Ellsworth, John, 2 Physician [1674/5] Tenison, Thomas, 5 S.S.T.B. [afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury] 1674 Cock, Nathaniel, 33 {53d} Merchant of London 1676 [Reynolds,] Edward, 24 [D.D.] Bishop of Norwich 1678 Watson, John, Vicar 2 of Wroxham 1678 Clarke, Samuel, 1 Rector of Rainham 1681 Gardiner, Francis, 2 Citizen and Alderman [of Norwich] [1681] Nurce, William, Clerk 2 [1681/2] Prideaux, Humphrey, 1 pounds {54a} and 1 S.T.P., and Prebendary [afterwards Dean of Norwich] 1691 Adamson, William, 2 Rector of St. John in Maddermarket 1678 Brigges, Augustine, [10] {54b} Citizen and Alderman [of Norwich] Wisse, Thomas, Citizen and Alderman [of Norwich] Church, Bernard, Citizen and Alderman [of Norwich] 1696 Penning, Benjamin, 1 A.M., and Rector of St. Clement's, Norwich 1692 Ireland, Richard, His Library formerly Rector of Beeston and sometime also of St. Edmond's, Norwich, where he was born 1700 Adamson, William, 3 shelves of books Rector of St. John's Maddermarket 1704 Trimnell, Dr., 3 Archdeacon of Norfolk, and Prebendary of Norwich [afterwards Bishop of Norwich] 1704 Gardiner, Stephen, 1 Esq., Recorder of this City 1706 Gurdon, Thornaugh, 2 Esq., [Letton] 1706 Resbury, Benjamin, 1 Rector of Cranworth cum Letton 1706 Adams, Archibald 1 1706 Moore, John, [D.D.], 3 Lord Bishop of Norwich 1706/7 Tanner, Thomas, D.D., 5 Chancellor of Norwich [afterwards Bishop of St. Asaph] 1706/7 Bacon, Waller, Esq. 1 1706/7 Beverley, Michael, 8 Esq., Citizen and Alderman of Norwich 1707 Potts, Algernon, Esq. 1 [of Norwich] 1707 Nelson, Thomas, 3 Rector of Morston, in Norfolk 1707 Cook, Sir William, 9 Bart. 1707 Eden, Henry, Fellow 4 of Trinity College, Cambridge 1707 Laughton, John, 4 Trinity College, Cambridge, and Library Keeper to the University 1707 Rudd, Edward, Fellow 3 of Trinity College, Cambridge Bradshaw, Samuel, 1 A.B., Trinity College, Cambridge Granger, Gilbert, 1 A.B., Trinity College, Cambridge Snow, Matthew, 1 Trinity College, Cambridge Chamberlain, William, 1 Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge Bourchier, Ralph, 1 Trinity College, Cambridge Cotes, Roger, Fellow 3 of Trinity College, Cambridge Eusden, Lawrence, of 5 Trinity College, Cambridge Smith, Edward, of 3 Trinity College, Cambridge Fleming, David, A.B., 1 of Trinity College, Cambridge [1707/8] Ganning, Nathaniel, 1 Rector of Reyme[r]ston, in Norf. 1708 Doyly, Samuel, Fellow 1 of Trinity College, Cambridge Farewell, Mr. [of 1 Trinity College, Cambridge] Andrews, Mr., [of 1 Trinity College, Cambridge] Foulis, J Mr. [of 1 Trinity College, Cambridge] Hill, Mr., Fellow of 1 Trinity College, Cambridge [1708] Lightwin, John, 2 President of Caius College, Cambridge 1708 Gurdon, Brampton, 2 Fellow of Caius College, Cambridge Hawys, Roger, Fellow 1 of Caius College, Cambridge Crask, Dr., of 1 Cambridge Dodd, Mr., Fellow of 1 Clare Hall Worts, William, A.M., 1 of Cambridge 1709/10 Bedingfield, James, 1 als De Grey, Fellow of Gonvil and Caius College, Cambridge 1709/10 Prideaux, Humphrey, 1 D.D., and Dean of Norwich 1712 [Trimnell], Charles, 3 Lord Bishop of Norwich 1713/4 Peck, John, Esq., of 2 Bracondale 1714 Nelson, Thomas, Late His Library Rector of Morston, in Norfolk 1715 Herne, Clement, Esq., 2 of Heverland [1715/6] Seaman, Thomas, Esq., 2 of Heigham 1716 Mackerell, Benjamin, 2 of the City of Norwich, Gent. [1716] Helwys, Nicholas, 1 Esq., Citizen and Alderman of Norwich 1717 and 1718 Prideaux, Humphrey, 2 D.D., and Dean of Norwich 1718 Clark, Thomas, Esq. 3 1719 Houghton, William 1 1721 Grayle, John, Rector 9 of Blickling 1725 Knyvett, John, of 1 this City, Esq. 1726 Tanner, Thomas, 100 {55a} S.T.P., and Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich [afterwards Bishop of St. Asaph] 1727 Reveley, Edward 4 1728 Kirkpatrick, John, His Library Merchant and Treasurer to the Great Hospital in this City 1729 Jermy, John, Esq. [?] {55b} 1730 Prideaux, Edmund, 60 {55c} Esq. 1730 Wingfield, Robert, 13 Writing master 1731 Pagan, William 7 1731 Gurdon, Thornaugh, [2?] {55d} [Letton] King, Reuben, Primier 1 [sic] English Schoolmaster in this City 1731 Mackerell, Benjamin, 13 the present Library Keeper 1733 Whaley, John 1 Bennet, Gilbert 2 1733 Jermy, John 40 1732 Ellis, Ben-Jos[eph], 2 Minister of St. Andrew's in Norwich 1737 Jermy, John, Esq. 14 1737 Nash, Robert, Esq., 4 Chancellor of this Diocese

PART II. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

FOUNDATION AND HISTORY.

Warrington and Salford claim to have established the earliest examples of municipally-controlled and rate-supported free popular libraries in the United Kingdom, they having added books to the attractions of their museums which were established in 1848 and 1849 respectively under the Act of 1845 "for encouraging the establishment of museums in large towns." Norwich, however, has the distinction of being the first municipality to adopt the first public library act, which was due to the labours of Mr. William Ewart. Ewart's act received the royal assent on the 14th August, 1850, and within seven weeks Norwich had decided to adopt it!

[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.

"A few minutes after four the sounds of distant music intimated the approach of Sir Samuel Bignold (the Mayor) and his friends, and, after the lapse of another second or so, his worship appeared in sight, accompanied by H. Birkbeck, Esq. (the Sheriff of the city), the Duke of Wellington, the Earl of Orford, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, M.P., Sir J. P. Boileau, Bart., Edmond Wodehouse, Esq., M.P., S. M. Peto, Esq., M.P., the Rev. E. Sidney, most of the members of the city magistracy and corporation, several county magistrates, a large number of influential county gentlemen and citizens, J. R. Staff, Esq. (the Town Clerk), Mr. E. E. Benest (the City Surveyor), the Corporation officers bearing the city regalia, &c., &c.—followed by a large procession of the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows, carrying flags and banners, the most prominent of which bore the mottoes—'Success to the Free Library,' 'Peto, the true Friend of Civil and Religious Liberty,' 'The Durability of the Constitution,' and 'Education for the People.' The procession was headed by an excellent brass band, playing, as it approached, the popular air, 'Cheer, boys, cheer!' At this stage of the proceedings the outer crowd, in their anxiety to get within view of the proceedings, broke the barriers, overpowered the police, and made a rush to the palisades which surrounded the ground. These, by the weight of the many persons who clung upon them, unfortunately gave way, bringing with them a coping stone to which they were attached, and on which a young man named Samuel Harper had been sitting. He was thrown to the ground, and several people falling upon him he sustained a fracture of one of his ankles. He was immediately conveyed to the hospital, and we are glad to learn is doing well. Several other persons were also injured, but not seriously. Beyond this no accident occurred.

"With the assistance of the City Surveyor and Mr. Stanley, stone-mason, the worthy Mayor then proceeded to discharge his agreeable duty—the laying of the first stone. He used for the purpose a very elegant silver trowel {59a} with ivory handle, furnished by the Messrs. Etheridge (which had been presented to his worship by Mr. E. E. Benest) bearing the following inscription on the blade:—

Presented to Sir Samuel Bignold, Knight, Mayor of Norwich, on the occasion of his laying the first stone of The Free Library, September 13th, 1854.

"Upon the surface of the stone a brass plate was fixed, on which was engraved the following inscription:—

This first stone of the Norwich Free Library, was laid on the 13th September, A.D. 1854, by Sir Samuel Bignold, Knight, Mayor of this City in the years 1833-4, 1848-9, 1853-4. Henry Birkbeck, Esq., Sheriff. John Rising Staff, Esq., Town Clerk. Architect—Edward Everett Benest, City Surveyor."

The ceremony having been completed and the stone securely fixed in its place, addresses were delivered on the contemplated advantages of the library by the Mayor, the Rev. Edwin Sidney, M.A., Rector of Cornard Parva, Suffolk, and author of various works, Mr. Samuel Morton Peto, M.P. for Norwich, Sir J. P. Boileau, Bart., an archaeologist of Ketteringham, who was Sheriff of Norfolk in 1844, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, M.P., who in the early part of his legal career was on the Norfolk circuit, and two members of the Council, Mr. W. J. Utten Browne, and Mr. J. H. Tillett. The Town Clerk presented to the Mayor an address from the Norwich District of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, begging "most respectfully to tender the thanks of our numerous association to you and the Corporation of this city for the manifestation of regard for the Working Classes in having determined on the erection of a Free Library; feeling assured that such an institution will be welcomed by a large number of the industrious inhabitants, and will prove largely beneficial to all who will avail themselves of the advantages it offers." In the course of his address the Mayor said: "It has been my lot now, during my life, which has not been a short one, to aid a great many undertakings in this city—insurance offices, spinning factories, waterworks, literary and scientific institutions, and public charities; but I have never lent my assistance to any undertaking which more entirely commends itself to my judgment than that in which I am this day engaged in commencing" . . . "and I must here say that Mr. Tillett has been the main-spring of this undertaking, for he has never lost sight of it since the act placed it in the hands of the Corporation."

After the erection of the building had been commenced it was considered that it would be highly advantageous if the School of Art was connected with and formed part of the Library, and the Council authorised the expenditure of a further sum in order to add another story for the accommodation of the School of Art. This involved some delay in the progress of the building, and for various reasons the Library was not ready for opening until March, 1857.

According to the first annual report issued on August 31st, 1858, a special committee appointed by the Council estimated that the total cost of the site and building would amount to 7428 pounds : 5 : 0. "In order to repay Sir Samuel Bignold the amount advanced by him during the progress of the works, and to complete the same, a loan of 6,000 pounds, at 5 pounds per cent., was, in 1857, obtained from the Norwich Union Office, and it is to be repaid by instalments of 200 pounds yearly, which, with the interest on the loan, will nearly absorb for several years the rate of one penny in the pound per annum, authorized to be levied under the act . . ." The report proceeded: "The cost of the building has, unfortunately been a subject much talked about and misrepresented, and it should be remembered that the portion of the building occupied by the Library is less than a third of the whole, the other parts being occupied by the Museum, the Literary Institution, and the School of Art. The cost of the building, giving accommodation to all these institutions, has certainly been small compared with the cost of buildings for similar purposes in other towns: in Liverpool, for instance, the building cost 50,000 pounds."

"Under arrangements made with the committee of the Museum, the advantages of that institution have been secured to the citizens on two days of the week, and that such advantages have been appreciated, is evinced by the large number of visitors, chiefly of the working classes, every Monday and Saturday, to inspect the splendid collection of specimens in Natural History."

"The School of Art was, early in 1857, removed to the upper story of the new building, whereby the annual grant of 75 pounds made for the support of the institution will be in future saved."

As the first public library act made no provision for the purchase of books, a subscription fund was commenced for that purpose about the time of the laying of the foundation stone, and the following donations, with others, were soon made: The Duke of Wellington 50 pounds, Lord Wodehouse 25 pounds, Lord Suffield 25 pounds, Sir Samuel Bignold 21 pounds, Mr. J. H. Gurney, M.P., 50 pounds, and Mr. S. M. Peto, M.P., 50 pounds. At the time of the first annual report the total amount of donations received for the purchase of books, etc., and interest thereon was 357 pounds : 7 : 1, nearly all of which had been expended in the purchase of books, periodicals and newspapers.

On September 30th, 1854, the Council proceeded to the formation of a body of management, on lines suggested by a Committee which had been appointed to arrange preliminary proceedings for establishing a free library, and the following accepted office: President and Treasurer, Sir Samuel Bignold, Mayor of Norwich. Vice-Presidents: The Lord Bishop of Norwich, Lord Wodehouse, Lord Stafford, Lord Suffield, Sir J. P. Boileau, Mr. S. M. Peto, M.P., Mr. J. H. Gurney, M.P., Mr. H. J. Stracey, and the Rev. Edwin Sidney. Committee: Aldermen E. Willett and C. Darkins; Councillors Thomas Brightwell, J. G. Johnson, J. H. Tillett, J. Barwell, W. J. Utten Browne, O. Springfield, and two co-opted members, Dr. Goodwin and Mr. J. W. Dowson. Hon. Secretary, Mr. A. D. Bayne, the author of the "Comprehensive History of Norwich," 1869. The Committee had power to add to its number not exceeding five, and it was also resolved that the Committee should include five members to be nominated by the subscribers and five by the working classes. The Committee shortly afterwards added to its number. Protests were received regarding the proposal that admission to the Library should be by subscription, and apparently it was not proceeded with. In accordance with the other resolution of the Council, to the effect that the working classes should nominate five persons to serve on the Committee, the Mayor convened a meeting of the "working classes" at St. Andrew's Hall on the 1st October, 1856, when the following were selected for nomination to the Council, and were duly elected on the 16th October: Mr. C. J. Bunting, printer, Mr. Daniel Weavers, weaver, Mr. Henry Roberts, herbalist, Mr. L. Hill, news-vendor, and Mr. James Lofty, hairdresser.

The Library was opened on the 16th March, 1857, without any public function, owing to the difficulty of getting an eminent person to perform the ceremony, and the Committee resolved to celebrate the opening at a later date, which, however, was not done, although Mr. Ewart had promised to be present. According to the particulars in the appendices of J. J. Ogle's "The Free Library," Norwich was the eleventh modern rate-supported public library to open its doors, the previous ten libraries being those of Warrington and Salford (established under the Museums Act of 1845), Winchester, Manchester, Liverpool, Bolton, Kidderminster, Cambridge, Birkenhead and Sheffield. The following is a description of the building which appeared in the Illustrated London News, May 16th, 1857:

"The exterior of the lower story of the building is Roman Doric, the second story Roman Ionic, and the third Italian. The Library and an adjoining apartment, appropriated to the Museum, are on the ground floor; and below are spacious vaults, which are devoted to trade purposes, and from which a considerable annual revenue is expected to be derived. Over the principal entrance is a well executed head of Homer, and in the entrance-hall which has a tesselated pavement, are four scagliola columns with Corinthian capitals. The Museum-room is 54 feet in length and 26 feet wide, and the Library is 44 feet long and 33 feet wide. A broad and handsome stone staircase conducts the visitor to the second floor, on which is a lecture-room of the same dimensions as the Library, and two apartments appropriated to the Literary Institution, which are collectively of the same size as the Museum beneath. On the third floor are two large rooms for the School of Art, with domed roofs and ample skylights, and four smaller apartments for classes are also provided." A reproduction of a recent photograph of the building, showing to the left a portion of the Reading Room added in 1907, faces page 56.

The Library proper at first consisted of one room, as stated above, which combined a news and reading room, and reference and lending departments. Books were not issued from the lending department until January 1st, 1858, when the books in two classes, "General Literature" and "Voyages and Travels" were ready for circulation. Regarding rules for the loan of these books, the Committee provisionally adopted those of the Sheffield Free Library. By July of the same year all the books were available for borrowing, and the circulation "reached 500 volumes, always on loan, every volume being returned or renewed within a week." When the first report was published in August, 1858, there were 3,354 volumes in the Library, of which 2,468 volumes were presented, arranged in ten classes: A, General Literature, 586 vols.; B, Geography, Voyages and Travels, 560 vols.; C, Dramatists, Poets, and Novelists, 454 vols.; D, History and Biography, 383 vols.; E, Bohn's Libraries, 318 vols.; F, Bonn's Libraries and Cabinet Cyclopaedia, 315 vols.; G, Natural History and Sciences, 244 vols.; H, Metaphysics, Logic and Religion, 306 vols.; I, Dictionaries, Cyclopaedias, Reviews, 88 vols.; [J] Magazines, 100 vols. All the books were apparently available either for reading at the library or for home-reading. In 1858 a record of issues was kept which showed that during the first half year 5,225 volumes were circulated "to nearly 700 persons," and the total issue of books "for perusal" in the reading room was 10,066 "issued to a large number of citizens."

Owing to the small amount of money available for the purchase of books and periodicals, the citizens were invited in the second quarter of 1857 to contribute for the supply of reviews, periodicals and newspapers, and by July 1858 nearly 60 pounds in subscriptions for this purpose had been obtained.

Mr. A. D. Bayne, as Hon. Secretary to the Committee, virtually acted as Librarian until his resignation in April, 1860, attending its meetings, conducting its business, purchasing the books for the Library, etc. The first person to take charge of the Library was Mr. Henry Turner who was engaged pro tem. on the 31st December, 1856, to take care of the new building, to catalogue the books, collect the subscriptions, etc., at a salary of 1 pounds weekly. For the first year he was regarded as an attendant, but subsequently he was called the Librarian. Apparently by reason of illness his engagement ceased at the end of 1858, and after a short interval, during which time Mr. R. L. M. Overton and Mr. C. Hunt were successively engaged, Mr. George Harper was appointed Librarian, the Committee recommending his appointment to the Council on 30th June, 1859. Mr. Harper remained the Librarian until his death at the end of 1876. During his tenure of office very little progress in the development of the Library was made, chiefly because the greater part of the library rate was absorbed in extinguishing the building loan, and no annual reports were issued. In a schedule in Edward Edwards' "Free Town Libraries," 1869, it is stated that the aggregate number of volumes in the Library in 1868 was 3,642, that the aggregate annual issues were 13,480, and that the annual expenditure on the Library was 600 pounds. As a matter of fact, the expenditure for the year ending 1st September, 1868, was 634 pounds : 7 : 3, of which 492 pounds : 9 : 11 was for the interest on, and repayment of, the loan. The product of the penny rate was 740 pounds, and an additional 119 pounds : 6 : 5 was received as fees for the hire of the upper rooms and the cellars of the Library. In the early days of the Library these rooms were hired for many purposes, including Sunday services, temperance meetings, Cambridge University local examinations, lectures, dinners, entertainments, etc., the cellars were used for the storage of wines and spirits, and the Norwich Meteorological Society had an anemometer fixed on top of the building.

Mr. George Easter, who succeeded Mr. Harper as Librarian in January 1877, was a native of Norwich, who had followed the craft of a wood-carver in Cambridge, and had had no training in library work. The burden of debt upon the Library having been considerably diminished, and the librarian coming to his duties with enthusiasm and a disposition to seek advice on books and library matters from those competent to give it, he was able to effect some improvements in the administration of the Library, and to develop it. About six months after his appointment he had prepared for the press an author catalogue of the books in the Lending and Reference Departments of the Library, which was ready for sale at sixpence each in December. One thousand copies of this crown octavo catalogue of 94 pages were printed. In this catalogue the hours of the Lending Department were stated to be from 11 a.m. till 3.30 p.m. on week-days.

The publication of an annual report was revived in 1879 when a report covering the period December 1st, 1877 to December 31st 1878 was submitted to the Town Council. It showed that the stock consisted of 4,400 volumes, of which nearly 1,000 had been added during the year; and that during the period 1,545 borrowers' tickets had been issued, and 27,408 volumes had been issued, as compared with 15,312 vols. issued from September 1875 to September 1876.

In 1879 the Librarian requested the Committee to allow him to purchase works relating to Norwich, which eventually led to the formation of the Local Collection, which is described on pp. 77-81.

The library rate was one penny in the pound from the date of the opening of the library until 1871, but for several years afterwards it was either about three farthings or one halfpenny. The rate was raised to three farthings in the pound in 1880, and in the following year it was raised to one penny in the pound, thereby providing 937 pounds : 10 : 0 for the year, since which time the full library rate has always been levied. Mr. F. W. Harmer took a prominent part in securing the increase in the library rate. He pointed out that to spend the product of a halfpenny rate on the plea of economy was really the reverse of economical, as it just sufficed to pay standing charges, leaving little or nothing for the purchase of books.

The annual report for the year ending March 25th, 1888, is interesting as it records that the great burden of the debt on the building had been cleared off, and briefly reviews the work of the Library after ten years' service of the Librarian, as follows:

"The present Librarian was appointed in 1877, starting with a stock of 3,500 books in the Lending Department and almost none in the Reference Department; whereas the present stock consists of 11,500 for Lending and 5,000 for Reference purposes, about 1,200 of the latter, with 1,650 pamphlets, pictures, &c., being of a local character and purchased with fines imposed for detaining books beyond the time allowed for reading.

"The number of borrowers in 1877 was 1,540, whereas the number in 1887 was 3,550; the number of issues of books in the same period increasing from 27,000 to 77,000—about 10,000 of the population of the city over 14 years of age having taken advantage of the boon afforded by this department."

The report draws attention to an increase in the hours of the lending library, which hitherto had been 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., to 11 a.m. till 9 p.m. every week-day except Thursday.

The establishment of a juvenile department as a means of stimulating interest in the Library was one of the first suggestions made by Mr. Easter after his appointment, and although the Committee did not entertain it then he did not abandon it, and the subject was raised in the press and in Committee in 1885. As a result the Mayor, Mr. John Gurney, who was keenly interested in the proposal, offered to give 100 pounds on condition that an additional 150 pounds was raised, but he died before the establishment of the scheme. The Chairman of the School Board, Mr. (afterwards Sir) George White, who was a member of the Committee, promised to raise the matter at a School Board Meeting, but the scheme, to be financed by public subscription, did not come to fruition until 1889. In that year the total amount of subscriptions reached 276 pounds : 14 : 9, and 3,667 volumes suitable for juveniles were obtained.

Batches of books were forwarded to every elementary school in the City, and the head teacher in each was made responsible for the distribution of the books to the scholars in standards IV and upwards. The tables published in the annual report for the year ending March 1890 show that 3,621 books were sent to 38 schools, and that the total issues for the first seven months was 52,312. In the report for the year ending March 1893 the Committee reported:

"The Juvenile Department having proved a source of labour and cost much beyond what was anticipated, a Sub-Committee appointed to report on the subject recommended that the School Board should be asked to contribute to the expense of repair and renewal of books, and to urge upon their staff increased care and vigilance in the management of the Department. This expense the Board report they are unable legally to incur. Pending this decision the distribution of the books was suspended, but the Committee have now decided to continue the circulation for another twelve months."

The wear and tear of the juvenile books proceeded apace, and the report for 1894-95 stated that when they were last called in "1,700 had to be rebound or repaired, and in the four circulations about 800 volumes have been found defective or worn out and withdrawn. The Committee therefore decided to issue the reduced number of books, to such schools as made application for them, under more systematic regulations." The juvenile books went from bad to worse, and in the report for the year ending March 1900 it was stated that the Committee had decided to hand over the stock to the Norwich School Board, which had recently decided to establish and work a Juvenile Library of its own. Thus ended an experiment which was financed unsatisfactorily, badly controlled, and of very doubtful utility as a means of developing the work of the Library.

The large increase in the stock of the lending library necessitated a new catalogue, and one (304 pp.) was printed and published in 1889, which was followed by supplements (88 pp. and 106 pp.) in 1889 and 1895. These catalogues were compiled on the dictionary plan, the authors' names and the titles and subjects of the books being arranged in one alphabetical sequence.

The question of Sunday opening was discussed by the Committee in July, 1884, but the Council declined to sanction the Committee's recommendation to open the Reading Room. Five and a half years later the Council revoked its decision, and the men's and women's reading rooms on the first floor were opened on Sundays between the hours of 3 and 9 p.m. In the annual report following the Sunday opening the experiment was described as "quietly successful," and in the reports for the next few years the visits were estimated at 15,000 annually—a daily average of 289. The Reading Room continued to be open all the year round until 1913, when owing to the small attendances during the summer months it was closed from June to September inclusive; in that year the average attendance on the Sundays was 117. Having regard to the small attendances and the inadequate library staff, the Committee in 1915 decided that the Reading Room should be closed on Sundays during the war.

The Report for the year ending March 1894 briefly reviewed the work of the Library after forty years. By that time the stock had reached 30,124 volumes in all departments, and the annual issue from the lending library, excluding 49,000 books issued by the teachers in 36 elementary schools, was 86,355. The Reference Library, including the Local Collection, contained 10,520 volumes and 5,367 pamphlets.

The large room on the ground floor vacated by the Museum was extended and renovated during the year 1895-6, and was partially furnished with book-cases and shelving in order to provide accommodation for the Reference Library, which then comprised 8,450 volumes and 2,081 pamphlets, with 2,987 local books and 4,327 local pamphlets.

In 1896 a loan of 1,300 pounds was sanctioned by the Local Government Board for defraying the cost of the extension of the Reference Library and fittings, the purchase of a Cotgreave Indicator, installed in 1897, the restoration of the exterior stonework of the building, and interior decoration and repairs. The total expenditure amounted to 1,740 pounds, the difference between the cost and the amount of the loan being paid from the balance in hand.

During the year 1898-1899 a catalogue of the Reference Library was prepared for printing in sections, and in the following year five were printed. The entries in these sectional catalogues were single-line author and subject entries, the latter being merely inverted title-entries.

Mr. J. Geo. Tennant, the Sub-Librarian, who had been appointed to that position in 1888, having previously been engaged part-time at the Library, was promoted to the office of Librarian in 1901, following the death of Mr. Easter. A few months later the Committee advertised the vacant office of Sub-Librarian, candidates to have had training and experience in a public library, and Mr. Llewellyn R. Haggerston, an assistant in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Public Libraries, was appointed.

The safeguarded open-access system, by which borrowers are allowed to choose books from the shelves, was considered by the Committee and the Council in 1905, but not adopted. The system was then in its infancy, but has since been introduced into many public libraries.

The provision of catalogues of the Library was considered by the Committee in 1905-6, and it was decided to provide type-written sheaf catalogues of authors and subjects for the Lending Department, which were completed in 1906-7.

Owing to the inadequate accommodation in the Reading Room on the first floor, the question of extending the Library building received the attention of the Committee for a considerable period, and eventually the City Engineer prepared plans for the extension of the building, to provide a reading room on the ground floor. The new room cost about 1,640 pounds and was provided with book-cases, furniture, etc., at a cost of 267 pounds, and was opened to the public in April, 1907. Most of the book-cases were provided for shelving several classes of the Lending Library books, partly because more shelving accommodation was required, but principally to permit the public to inspect the books, "the object being to induce a more general use of these works in place of fiction." A collection of directories, annuals, and reference books was placed on open shelves in the room for ready reference.

In accordance with the Committee's decision to adopt the Dewey Decimal System of Classification, some attempt was made to classify the books according to this system.

An experiment which aimed at fostering the use of the Library by school children was made during the winter of 1907-8. "By arrangement with the Education Committee a selection of books likely to meet the tastes of elementary school children was made by several of the teachers. These books were placed on Saturday mornings in one of the rooms on the top floor where tables and chairs were provided. One or more teachers attended in rotation to superintend the young readers . . . It has to be confessed, however, that the attendance, once the novelty had worn off, was not sufficient to justify the expenditure of time and trouble which was necessarily involved." {70}

Owing to ill-health Mr. Tennant, who had served the Library faithfully for about 21 years, was compelled to vacate the office of Librarian in 1909, and light occupation was found for him in the capacity of Superintendent of the Reading Room, which post he filled until his death in August, 1911. He was succeeded as Librarian by the Sub-Librarian, Mr. Haggerston, who resigned his appointment on 1st March, 1911. Following Mr. Haggerston's resignation, the Committee advertised for a trained librarian, and from 110 candidates the author of this History, who was the Chief Assistant Librarian of the St. Pancras Public Libraries, and who received his earlier training at the Bishopsgate Institute, was appointed in May, 1911.

The administration of the Library for many years had, in the words of the Report for 1909-10 "proceeded steadily on the old lines," and when the present Librarian took office his first duty was to present a comprehensive report to the Committee on the condition of the Library, and to make suggestions for its re-organisation on up-to-date methods of library administration. The Report was approved in principle, and since that date the work of re-organisation has proceeded as rapidly as the conditions have allowed.

The work of re-organisation may be briefly described. The rules and regulations for the conduct and management of all departments of the Library were revised with the view of affording additional facilities to the public. Structural alterations were made for the better lighting and arrangement of the Lending Library, and improvements were made in the electric lighting of the several departments.

The condition of the Lending Library was especially serious. The Library had been in existence for over half a century, and the stock of books had never been subjected to a thorough overhauling, so that there were accumulations of old, useless and worn-out books, while numerous standard works on various branches of knowledge were not in the Library. The work of re-organisation was done systematically, class by class. First the useless books were discarded, and new standard and popular books were added. The class was then closely classified according to the Dewey System of Classification, and catalogued. As complaints regarding the lack of a printed catalogue had been made continuously for several years, it was decided, as an immediate advantage to the public, to publish at the price of one penny, a bi-monthly magazine entitled "The Readers' Guide," which would contain the whole or a portion of an annotated and classified catalogue of the books in one of the sections immediately after its revision, and also an annotated list of new books added to the Library. The Fiction Catalogue was published in the first number, which was issued on 1st November, 1911, and the series of classified catalogues containing altogether the titles of over 17,000 volumes was completed in the issue for May, 1915, since which date the "Readers' Guide" has contained special bibliographies of local subjects and topics of current interest, in addition to the usual list of recent books. The special bibliographies have included the subjects of the University Extension lectures each year, George Borrow, Lord Nelson, Agincourt and Erpingham, Norfolk Artists, the European War, Shakespeare, Child Welfare, and Thomas Gray. For the use of borrowers two card catalogues have been installed in the Lending Library, the one being a complete author catalogue, and the other a complete classified catalogue, with numerous subject guide cards to facilitate reference.

A stock of books specially suitable for juvenile readers was obtained in 1911 to form a Juvenile Department of the Lending Library, in order that the young people should acquire a facility in the use of a large library which would be of value to them after leaving school. A classified catalogue of the books in this Department was prepared by the Sub-Librarian under the supervision of the City Librarian, and was published in September, 1914, and an enlarged edition was published in September, 1916.

During the period 1911-1916 there were several changes in the personnel of the staff. The great pressure of the re-organising work and the need for a trained assistant on the staff led the Committee to advertise for a Sub-Librarian in 1913, and in November Mr. Charles Nowell, Chief Assistant of the Coventry Public Libraries, and the holder of four certificates of the Library Association, was appointed to the position. With the view of increasing the efficiency of the staff the Committee, in common with many other Public Library Committees, has made the appointments of junior assistants conditional on their obtaining the professional certificates of the Library Association.

The title of the Library was altered in July, 1911, by the Council from "Free Library" to its statutory title "Public Library."

The large oval room on the second floor, which in the early days of the Library had been used as an art room, was converted into an exhibition and lecture room in 1912.

The Norfolk and Norwich Photographic Survey Record was inaugurated in 1913, particulars of which are given on pp. 81-82.

The Library has fulfilled special national functions during the present European War. Several thousand leaflets issued by the Central Committee for National Patriotic Organisations were distributed at the Library. The Committee realising the importance to the public of studying the deeper causes of the war, and other important matters involved, appointed a Sub-Committee to deal with the problem of war literature. A large and representative selection, dealing with the subject from every point of view, was made from the several thousand books published. The books thus purchased made the collection of war books a thoroughly representative one, and an annotated and classified catalogue of the books was printed in the "Readers' Guide." The Library has also been at the service of soldiers billeted in Norwich both for borrowing and for reference, and a large number of soldiers have availed themselves of its facilities for recreative reading and study. To assist the Camps Library, which provides libraries for all the camps of the British armies at home and abroad, the Committee sent many of its worn-out books, collected for it hundreds of books and magazines from readers frequenting the Library, and sent a donation of 12 pounds : 15 : 0, referred to on page 85.

Three members of the staff enlisted in H.M. Forces in 1915, with the promise of their positions being retained. The Sub-Librarian, 2nd Lieut. Chas. Nowell (22nd London Regiment) was wounded in France in September, 1916, but he was able to return to his military duties in December; Mr. F. T. Bussey, the Senior Assistant in the Lending Department is serving in France with the Norfolk Division of the Royal Engineers; and Mr. A. R. Nobbs, a Junior Assistant, is a Sick Berth Attendant in the Royal Navy.



CHAIRMEN AND VICE-CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEE.

During the earliest years of the Library Committee, the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen were not regularly appointed annually. The following is a list of the definite appointments:—

DATE. CHAIRMAN. VICE-CHAIRMAN. 1850-1856 Various. 1857 J. Godwin Johnson. J. H. Tillett. 1858-1860 Various. 1861 George Middleton (who was generally in the Chair during 1860). 1862 Various. 1863-1868 Councillor J. W. Dowson. 1869-1870 Councillor Carlos Cooper. 1871-1877 Councillor Thomas Jarrold. 1878-1885 Councillor James Freeman. 1886-1887 The Mayor, John Alderman James Freeman. Gurney, Esq., of Sprowston. 1887-1890 Councillor (afterwards Alderman) James Freeman. 1891-1892 Alderman Samuel Alderman George White. Newman. 1893-1907 Councillor T. Breese. 1893-1902 Alderman George White. 1903-1907 Councillor H. J. Copeman. 1908-1917 Councillor Alderman R. G. Bagshaw. (afterwards Alderman) H. J. Copeman.

DONATIONS.

Although the Public Library Act of 1855 amended the first act, and made provision for the purchase of books, a power denied under the first act, the Library was so deeply involved in debt at its commencement that appeals had to be made for donations of books and money for the purchase of books, newspapers, and periodicals. As previously stated, the Committee's first annual report presented to the Council on 31st August, 1858, showed that donations in cash, with interest, had amounted to 357 pounds : 7 : 1. The same report gave a list of the donors of 2,468 volumes—about two-thirds of the entire stock—of which 833 were from the People's College, and 1,000 were transferred from the Penny Library.

The donations to the Library during its history have been many and varied—good, bad, and indifferent—such as are usually offered to public libraries. Notice may be made of some of the outstanding gifts. The British Association in 1868, the year of its visit to Norwich, made a grant of 50 pounds to the Library for the purchase of books, perhaps at the suggestion of the Rev. (afterwards Canon) Hinds Howell, who was the Organising Secretary for the visit. At any rate, at the meeting of the Library Committee on 4th November, 1868, he attended to explain "that the grant would be expended in the purchase of books, which embraced thirty-five different scientific subjects, or such of them as the Committee might think best adapted to the wants of, and most beneficial to, the classes using the Library," and he received the thanks of the Committee for representing the wants of the Library to the Association. The Committee complied with the request that a bookcase should be provided for the books, bearing a suitable inscription.

A large number of patent specifications were presented by H.M. Patent Office about the year 1865, and in 1889 the Office acceded to the Committee's request for Abridgments of Specifications, since which time they have been presented as issued.

Having regard to the slender financial resources of the Library the Mayor (Mr. H. Bullard) in 1879 suggested a public subscription, and headed the list with 10 pounds. This was followed by donations of 10 pounds from Mr. J. J. Colman, (who also gave 25 pounds in 1887), and Mr. Henry Birkbeck, and by smaller sums from other people, amounting altogether to 91 pounds : 2 : 0.

A successful application was made to H.M. Treasury in 1886, for a donation of official publications, and some 260 volumes of Calendars of State Papers, Chronicles, Records, etc. were received, followed in 1901 by a further donation of 193 volumes. In 1900 the Library received from the same source twenty-five Memoirs of the Geological Survey relating to the Eastern Counties.

In 1890 the late Alderman James Freeman, who was Chairman of the Public Library Committee for several years, bequeathed 20 pounds for some special purpose in connection with the Library, which enabled the Committee to commence a Shakespeare Collection, now comprising over 600 books and pamphlets.

Mr. Russell J. Colman, J.P., D.L., made a handsome donation to the Reference Library in 1900, when he presented a set of Parliamentary Debates in 511 volumes, in half calf, comprising Cobbett's "Parliamentary History," continued by Hansard, 1066-1803, Hansard's "Parliamentary Debates," 1803-1890, and the "Official Parliamentary Debates" to 1897. Since that date the following members of Parliament for Norwich have partly kept the set up to date: Mr. Louis J. Tillett, Sir George White, Sir Frederick Low and Lieut. E. Hilton Young.

The firm of Messrs. J. and J. Colman, Ltd., of Norwich, presented 3,500 Parliamentary Papers, Blue Books, etc. in 1900 which Mr. J. J. Colman had accumulated.

Mr. T. R. Kemp, K.C., Recorder of Norwich, 1892-1905, who had made a study of the Letters of Junius, bequeathed his collection of various editions of the Letters and works relating to them, numbering altogether 128 volumes.

Mr. Henry F. Euren, a member of the Library Committee since 1880, gave 160 volumes on agriculture and other subjects in 1907, before and after which date he made other donations.

The Reference Library was largely increased in 1914 by a bequest of Mr. Bosworth W. Harcourt, an esteemed co-opted member of the Committee who had taken an active interest in the Library for over 27 years. The bequest, comprising about 2,250 books and pamphlets, was made on condition that such books and pamphlets should be known as the "Bosworth Harcourt Bequest" and that the same should not be placed in circulation, but only read or consulted in the Library. Miss C. M. Nichols, R.E., S.M., N.B.A., designed a suitable book-plate for the books, and a book-case, surmounted by the testator's name was provided. Mr. Harcourt's library naturally reflected his tastes: works of and about the chief poets and dramatists, well-illustrated volumes, and books on the graphic arts preponderate, and there are many volumes dealing with the history and antiquities of Norfolk and Norwich.

The munificent bequest of Mrs. Elizabeth Russell Hillen, by which the Library will receive 500 pounds for the advancement of local archaeology, is mentioned in more detail on page 79.

The chief benefactor to the Library is Mr. Walter Rye, who has been a member of the Committee since 1904. In addition to his many and valuable gifts to the Local Collection, which are described on pages 78-79, he has given a large number of reference books, chiefly relating to heraldry and history, but also including a collection of books and tracts on the Civil War, and a number of calendars of patent rolls, and other official publications.



LOCAL COLLECTION.

The collection of literature relating to Norfolk and Norwich was first mooted on January 15th, 1879, when the Committee resolved that works of interest connected with Norwich should be purchased. This decision was doubtless the result of a recommendation from the Librarian, Mr. George Easter, as Mr. James Reeve, F.G.S., then Curator of the Castle Museum, had suggested to him the wisdom of forming a Local Collection. In April of the following year the Librarian reported to the Committee that he had received during the year 10 pounds for fines, and he requested that he might retain the amount for the purpose of forming a Local Reference Library. The Committee sanctioned his request, and from that time to the present the fines imposed for the detention of lending library books beyond the time allowed for reading have been exclusively devoted to the Local Collection. Mr. Councillor Stanley, a member of the Committee, by way of a commencement, gave "the books containing a complete list of the city and county charities," and the annual report for 1880 stated that "A collection of Books of local interest is proceeding very satisfactorily." The collection had grown in ten years to 1,603 volumes and 1,933 pamphlets. In the annual report for 1893-94 it was stated that the receipts for fines from 1880 to that date had been 620 pounds, and that the collection numbered 2,646 volumes, 3,462 pamphlets, and numerous engravings, maps, portraits, etc. Mr. Easter was mainly responsible for the selection of the books for the Local Collection, and owing to his great enthusiasm in its development the collection comprised at his death in December, 1900, nearly 4,000 volumes and about 5,100 pamphlets.

Mr. Walter Rye joined the Committee as a co-opted member in the latter part of 1904, and within a few months the Committee had accepted his voluntary services as a Norfolk antiquary, to compile a card catalogue of the local books and pamphlets. This catalogue he has kept up to date. The collection soon engaged his special attention, and from the time of his joining the Committee until the present year he has been zealous in its development, giving each year donations from his private collection, and working in its interest in various ways. In 1908 he published at his own expense the following catalogues which he had compiled: "Catalogue of the Topographical and Antiquarian portions of the Free Library at Norwich" (81 pp.), "Calendar of the Documents relating to the Corporation of Norwich, preserved in the Free Library there" (22 pp.), "Catalogue of the Portraits referring to Norfolk and Norwich Men . . . preserved in the Free Library at Norwich" (33 pp.), and "Short List of Works relating to the Biographies of Norfolk Men and Women, preserved in the Free Library at Norwich" (34 pp.).

Mr. Rye's donations have been both numerous and valuable. In 1905-06 he presented his collection of prints, comprising about 700 portraits and nearly 7,000 views, which included the well-known Smith Collection. During the years 1911-16 his donations became more extensive, and were crowned by his promise made to the Committee in 1916 that he would bequeath his valuable Norfolk manuscripts and the remainder of his printed books, of which copies were not in the Library. Some of the more important manuscripts which he has given to the Library are the following: Friar Brackley's Armorial Manuscript, circa 1460—a paper volume of 142 pages, with 75 coloured drawings of arms of the Pastens and Mautbys and their matches, being the oldest Norfolk Armorial manuscript known; Collection of original manuscripts relating to the Carpenters' Company of Norwich, 1594; Rev. F. Blomefield's Original Entry Book for his "History of Norfolk," 1733-6; Norfolk Pedigrees, compiled by Peter Le Neve—a volume (86 pp.) of Norfolk pedigrees, with the arms in colours, and an index of names. For these and other gifts the Committee provided an oak exhibition case in the Reading Room in February, 1912. In May 1916 the Council placed on record its appreciation of, and grateful thanks for, Mr. Walter Rye's munificence to the Library.

At the close of 1911 the Committee, having a considerable balance in hand, resolved to bid for a number of items at the auction sales of Dr. Augustus Jessopp's Library and the Townshend Heirlooms. At these sales many interesting and valuable documents relating to the history of Norfolk and Norwich were purchased for about 92 pounds, including fifteen of Dr. Jessopp's note-books and an "Address from the Gentry of Norfolk and Norwich to General Monck" in 1660, bearing the signatures of about 800 persons. The latter manuscript was published in facsimile by Messrs. Jarrold and Sons in 1913, the volume also including an introduction by Mr. Hamon Le Strange, F.S.A., biographical notes and index by Mr. Walter Rye, a catalogue of the collection of books in the Library on the Civil War period by the City Librarian, and several portraits.

The Committee received in 1915 an intimation of a munificent bequest of 500 pounds by the late Mrs. Elizabeth Russell Hillen, of King's Lynn, for the advancement of local archaeology, etc., on condition that the name of Hillen should be permanently associated with the use of the money. The Norwich Castle Museum also received a similar bequest. Mrs. Hillen was the widow of Mr. Henry James Hillen, a native of King's Lynn, who died in 1910. After retiring from the profession of schoolmaster he devoted much of his time to historical and archaeological research, and subsequently published the fruits of part of his work in local newspapers, several brochures, and his monumental "History of the Borough of King's Lynn," 2 vols., 1907. Mr. Hillen made considerable use of the Local Collection, and his wife's bequest was no doubt partly in recognition of the services it had rendered.

For many years the Committee has tried to make the collection as complete as possible, its wise object being to collect everything local: it has endeavoured to obtain all books, pamphlets, prints, plans and maps, and important manuscripts relating to Norfolk and Norwich, all books and pamphlets printed locally until about 1850, all books and pamphlets by authors associated with the county either by birth or residence, portraits and biographical publications relating to Norfolk people, local newspapers, election literature, early theatre bills, broadsides, book-plates, reports and proceedings of local authorities and societies, etc.

When the present Librarian commenced his duties in 1911 the collection, as recorded in the stock-book of the Library, comprised 5,129 volumes and 6,362 pamphlets, since which time by purchase, spontaneous donations, and systematic application for local publications the collection has increased to 6,364 volumes and 8,126 pamphlets. In addition there are about 7,900 topographical prints and photographs, 950 portraits, and 380 maps, exclusive of the Photographic Survey Collection.

The collection contains extremely valuable files of local newspapers, including a rare volume of "Crossgrove's News or the Norwich Gazette" for the years 1728-32, the "Norwich Gazette" 1761-64, a long file of its successor the "Norfolk Chronicle" from 1772 with a few gaps to date, the "Norwich Mercury" 1756-60, 1771-80, and from 1802 to date, and "The Eastern Daily Press" from 1875 to date. Recent features introduced in the Local Collection are files of obituary notices of Norfolk people, extracted from various papers and mounted on large cards, and cuttings from newspapers and periodicals of items of local interest, which are mounted on uniform sheets, classified, and filed for reference.

Donations to the Local Collection have been far too numerous even to allow mention of the names of all the chief donors, but the interest of Mr. James Reeve, F.G.S., the Consulting Curator of the Castle Museum, should not pass unnoticed. He has given in recent years several scarce books and prints, including a copy of his rare monograph on "John Sell Cotman," and a volume of etchings by the Rev. E. T. Daniell.

In order to provide a handy guide to the extensive literature relating to Norwich, the present writer prepared an annotated and classified catalogue of the books, pamphlets, articles and maps in the Local Collection dealing with the City under its most important aspects. The catalogue, entitled "Guide to the Study of Norwich" was published in 1914, and the Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society marked its appreciation of it by purchasing 360 copies. In 1915 a series of special annotated catalogues of literature in the Library relating to Norfolk Celebrities was commenced in the "Readers' Guide." The first was devoted to the collection of literature relating to Lord Nelson (comprising 218 books, 39 pamphlets, 81 articles, and 31 prints), and the second to Norfolk Artists. Both catalogues were reprinted as pamphlets for sale at sixpence each.

He also prepared a scheme of classification for the entire collection, and began classifying and cataloguing the contents in 1915, but the work has been suspended owing to the absence of his trained assistants on service. However, about 3,000 books and pamphlets have been classified and catalogued in accordance with modern bibliographical practice, and it is hoped that in due course a complete catalogue will be prepared and printed, which will not only serve as a key to unlock this vast store of local information, but will also form an extensive bibliography of Norfolk and Norwich.



NORFOLK AND NORWICH PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY.

A valuable adjunct to the Local Collection is the Norfolk and Norwich Photographic Survey Record which was inaugurated in January, 1913. Shortly after the disastrous flood in Norfolk and Norwich during August, 1912, the Committee favourably considered a report from the City Librarian on the collection of photographs of everything interesting, valuable and characteristic of Norfolk and Norwich. A conference was convened between a Sub-Committee of the Public Library Committee and representatives of the local learned and scientific societies on 13th January, 1913, and ultimately a comprehensive scheme was adopted. It is carried out by the Public Library in collaboration with the Norwich and District Photographic Society and other local scientific societies, with the following object: "To preserve by permanent photographic process, records of antiquities, art, architecture, geology and palaeontology, natural history, passing events of local or historical importance, portraits, old documents, prints, and characteristic scenery of the county of Norfolk." The photographs contributed to the Survey become the property of the Public Library, under the care of the City Librarian, who is the Secretary and Curator of the Survey. The Public Library has undertaken the responsibility of the mounting, storage and cataloguing of the photographs. The Collection is increased by donations of prints, and the purchase of prints from money specially subscribed for the purpose.

[Picture: Exhibition and Lecture Room]

With the view of stimulating public interest in the Photographic Survey, and of acquainting persons with the scope and methods of photographic survey work, Mr. L. Stanley Jast, who was then the Chief Librarian of the Croydon Public Libraries, and the Hon. Curator of the Surrey Photographic Survey, delivered a public lecture with lantern illustrations to a large audience at Blackfriars' Hall on 24th January, 1913. The first exhibition of photographs illustrative of the work of the survey was arranged by the City Librarian, and was held in the new Exhibition Room at the Library during December, 1913. An illustration of the room, from a photograph taken during the exhibition, faces this page. The opening ceremony was performed by Mr. Russell J. Colman, D.L., J.P., the President of the Survey, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor of Norwich (Mr. James Porter) who was accompanied by the Lady Mayoress and the Sheriff (Mr. C. T. Coller). The collection of photographs, which commenced in May, 1913, increased at a rapid rate, and although the work of the Survey has been practically at a standstill since the beginning of the war, the collection numbers 1,847 mounted prints and 59 lantern slides. The technique of the photographs reaches a very high standard, the majority of them are platinotypes, and many are of whole-plate size. The collection will undoubtedly be of service to antiquaries, historians, architects, geologists, naturalists, photographers, artists, and all lovers of the beautiful in nature and art, and it will also be of inestimable value to posterity.



LECTURES, READING-CIRCLES, AND EXHIBITIONS.

For a long period lectures have been regarded as an important part of the educational or "extension" work of organised public libraries throughout the country, but in the case of Norwich lectures were instituted as a means of promoting the extension of the Library itself. As soon as the first stone of the building was laid the Committee in January, 1855, authorised the Secretary to make arrangements for a course of lectures at the Bazaar, St. Andrew's Street, in order to promote the objects of the Library, and by the April meeting lectures had been given by the Rev. A. B. Power (twice), the Rev. A. Reed, the Rev. J. Compton, the Rev. J. Gould, Mr. J. Fox (twice), Mr. J. H. Tillett, and Professor Edward Taylor, of Gresham College. Charges were made for admission, in aid of the funds of the library, and the net proceeds amounted to about 10 pounds, the attendances having been "better than usual at lectures in Norwich."

In October, 1861, a sub-committee was formed to arrange weekly penny readings, interspersed with lectures, in the large room at the Library on Thursday evenings, and in April of the following year the Secretary reported a net balance in hand of 9 pounds : 6 : 0, which sum was spent on books for the Library. In September, 1863, the Committee evidently intended to continue the penny readings, as it was resolved that Mr. Dowson, a member of the Committee, should have full liberty to make arrangements for conducting the penny readings during the following winter session.

A course of popular lectures in connection with the Library by distinguished scientists was inaugurated by Mr. F. W. Harmer, J.P., F.G.S., F.R.Met.Soc., in the year of his mayoralty, 1888. (Parenthetically it may be remarked that he has the distinction of being the oldest member of the Public Library Committee, he having served on it continuously since 1880.) Hoping to place the scheme on a permanent basis, Mr. Harmer suggested the appointment of a Committee of the Corporation to carry out arrangements for a yearly series of similar lectures on science by distinguished men, under the provisions of the Gilchrist Trust, and the matter was referred to the Library Committee. The first of these series, delivered early in 1889 by Sir Robert Ball, Dr. Lant Carpenter, Dr. Andrew Wilson, Professor Miall, Professor Seeley, and the Rev. Dr. Dallinger, were "crowned with complete success." Under the management of the Committee another course was delivered during the following winter, when the lecturers were Sir Robert Ball, Dr. Andrew Wilson, Mr. Louis Fagan, and Mr. Henry Seebohm, and two lectures were given during the winter of 1890-91, by Sir Robert Ball and Dr. Andrew Wilson respectively. Unfortunately, for reasons of economy, these were supplemented by a series by local gentlemen (which were given in Blackfriars' Hall), but the result was the reverse of successful, and led eventually to the abandonment of the original scheme. Lectures by Sir Robert Ball and Dr. Andrew Wilson, with others by local gentlemen were given, however, in the winter of 1892-93, and in the following winter by Sir Robert Ball, Dr. Andrew Wilson, and Dr. Drinkwater. No lectures were given in the winter of 1893-94 as the University Extension Lectures then inaugurated were regarded as sufficient, but these appealed to a different class, and never took the place of the others.