This book was prepared by instruction of the Norwich Public Library
Committee, and it is now published as a souvenir of the sixtieth
anniversary of the opening of the present Public Library, which will take
place on March 16th, 1917. Norwich occupies a unique place in the
history of libraries: it has the distinction of having established in
1608 one of the earliest provincial public libraries, if not the first in
England, and it was the first municipality to adopt the Public Library
Act, 1850. It is hoped, therefore, that the following sketch, besides
giving local readers and archaeologists a detailed account of an
important Norwich institution, will form an interesting chapter in the
history of British Libraries.
The compilation has been made from the recently discovered Minute Book of
the old Public Library, covering the period 1656-1733, from annual
reports and other official records, and from notes accumulated since
1911. The work has been done under difficulties due to the abnormal
conditions caused by the Great War, and I am conscious that imperfections
have resulted; for these I crave the reader's indulgence.
I am grateful to the Dean of Norwich (the Very Rev. H. C. Beeching, D.D.,
D.Litt.) for his kind help in several matters, for many suggestions, and
for reading the galley proofs. To Mr. Walter Rye I am indebted for
reading the proofs, and for assistance. Thanks are also due to Mr. F.
Johnson, the Assistant City Archivist, for consulting the City Records
and providing me with some extracts; and to Mr. F. R. Beecheno, the
historian of the parish of St. Andrew's, for assistance and information.
My obligations to Dr. Montague Rhodes James, the Provost of King's
College, Cambridge, and Mr. A. W. Pollard, M.A., of the British Museum,
are acknowledged in the text. For any errors in the book I am solely
responsible.
_January_, 1917.
GEO. A. STEPHEN.