According to the judicious Norfolk antiquary John Kirkpatrick, who
accumulated vast collections of material relating to Norwich, "There was
a design of erecting a Public Library in this City, in the reign of
Edward the Fourth, as appears by this legacy, in the will of John
Leystofte, vicar of St. Stephen's church, here, A.D. 1461,
namely,--"Item. I will that, if a library be begun in Norwich, within
two years after my decease, I bequeath to the same, my book called
Repyngton." {4} Kirkpatrick was unable to say whether the legacy was
effected, and no record remains.
The first City Library of which there is any record was founded on the
3rd May, 1608, and by the following order of Assembly which was then
recorded, it will be observed that it had an ecclesiastical basis, like
so many libraries of previous centuries: "Ordered, with the consent of
Jerrom Goodwyne, sword-bearer, that iij chambers, parcel of his
dwelling-howse, which he hath by lease of the cyttie, shal be converted
to a lybrary for the use of the preachers, and for a lodging chamber for
such preachers as shall come to this cittie, to preach on the
sabboth-dayes, and at other tymes, in the common place, and elsewhere,
within this cittie; where the said Jerrom Goodwyn shall fynd beddyng,
lynnynge, and other necessaries for lodging, for the preachers that so
shall come, during their abode in the cittie for the intent aforesaid:
which said romes for the lybrary shal be made fytt at the charge of this
cittie; and the said Goodwyn to allowe one of his servants to attende the
preachers. In consideration whereof, the said Goodwyne shal be allowed
yearly the rent which he now payeth, and his lease, notwithstanding, to
stand good for the terme therein expressed." {4}
The Library, however, was not intended solely for ministers. The wording
of the title-page of the first donation book, commenced in 1659, states
that it was founded for students: "Bibliotheca publica Norvicensis
communi studiosorum bono instituta incoepta et inchoata fuit Ano Domini
MDCVIII." (See reproduction, facing page 46). Moreover, the list of the
early members of the Library includes the names of people who were not
ministers. Facing pages 4 and 6 are facsimiles of the two pages in the
Minute Book bearing signatures of early members who subscribed to the
rules of the Library. Perhaps the most notable autographs are those of
Charles Trimnell, Bishop of Norwich, William Whiston, translator of
Josephus, and chaplain to John Moore, Bishop of Norwich, Thomas Tanner,
Bishop of St. Asaph, and Benjamin Mackerell, a Norfolk antiquary and
Librarian of the Norwich Public Library.
[Picture: Autographs of early members of the City Library 1]
To Judge by the existing records, the City had then received no books for
placing in the rooms. Mr. J. C. Tingey, {5a} however, considers it
"rather strange that when, in 1608, three rooms were fitted up for the
reception of the library at the New Hall there should be no existing
books to be placed in the presses, though promises of donations may have
been given. As a matter of fact the compilers of the old catalogues
mention several works without being able to say by whom they were
presented, and as many of these were printed in the 16th century it is
not impossible that some of them constituted a primary stock. On the
other hand many books whose donors are unknown were issued after the
library was inaugurated, so of these it is certain that they were
presented later." The number of works whose donors are not stated in the
first printed catalogue of 1706 is 51, but in the second printed
catalogue of 1732 the donors of 36 of these are stated, so there remain
only 15 works in the first printed catalogue of which the donors are
unknown. Of these fifteen one was printed after the establishment of the
Library, and so the primary stock suggested by Mr. Tingey could not have
consisted of more than 14 works.
There is a hiatus in the records of the Library proceedings from its
establishment to 1656. Possibly the books presented to the Library from
1608 to 1656 were simply allowed to accumulate in the Library rooms,
without any regulations in regard to their use and safe-keeping. That
the books were sadly neglected is very evident from a codicil to the will
dated September 18th, 1655, of John Carter, Rector of St. Laurence's
Church, Norwich, giving to the Library "divers books, etc." He revoked
his bequest by the following codicil, and "instead thereof gave 5 pounds
to each of the three united parishes of St. Laurence, St. Swithin, and
St. Margaret, for a stock of coals for ever": "nowe seeinge (to my no
small grief) that that library is locked up, ministers shut out of it,
and that it is never like to be of publique use againe, but that the
books are devoted to the wormes, dust, and rotteness, to the dishonour of
God, the damage of the ministry, and the wrong of the benefactors, the
dead, and the living, &c." {5b}
[Picture: Autographs of early members of the City Library 2]
By 1656, the year of Carter's death, the Assembly had evidently realised
the necessity for making regulations for the use of the Library, and had
drawn them up before the 16th January in that year, when it was "ordered
that the Articles moved touching the ordering of the Library be
continued."
On the ninth day of the following month eight ministers met at the
Library, when they received the "Orders" of the Council for the
regulation of the Library, and having subscribed to them, they were
admitted to the use of the Library. At this meeting they ordered two
frames for the "Orders"; that Mr. John Collinges should be Library Keeper
until January, 1657; that each minister admitted to the use of the
Library should pay 12d. quarterly; and that "a book should be bought for
registring the acts of the mins at their severall meetings in the
Library, and sheets of parchment fit for the engrossing of the orders,
and that the library keeper be desired to provide these against the next
meeting." This minute book is still in the City Library, but it has been
overlooked by all previous writers of notices of the Library. It
commences with the proceedings of the meeting on the 9th February, 1656,
and records the meetings until April 3rd, 1733. As the Assembly Minute
Books for the years 1632 to 1682 are missing the actual "orders"
previously mentioned cannot be quoted, but fortunately the other end of
the Minute Book was used to write in the declaration of admission and the
rules for the conduct of the Library. They are as follows:--
"We whose names are hereunto annexed upon our admission to ye use of
ye Publick Library in ye City of Norwch, in Complyance wth an Act of
ye Common Council of ye said City dated ye 16th January 1656, do
faithfully engage and promise,
"Imprimis That we will not at any time Carry out of ye said Library
any booke belonging to it.
"2 ly That we will not Leave any booke belonging to ye said Library
(after our using it) out of its due place, nor write any thing in any
of ye bookes, nor Leave them wth any Leaves turned downe.
"3 ly That we will not prejudice any other pson by our use of ye said
Library, to which purpose we shall not at any time delay our going to
ye Library after ye receipt of ye Keyes from ye Keeper, nor ye
restoring them when we Come out of ye said Library.
"4 ly That we shall as to all these Articles be Responsabl for our
friends who shall goe wth us to ye said Library, as for our selves.
"5 ly We shall (being duly Chosen thereto) not above once in seaven
yeares, discharge ye office of Library-Keeper.
"6 ly We shall faithfully pay our proportions to ye under-Keeper of
ye said Library quarterly, and also our equall share wth ye rest of
our brethren in all Charges they shall be at for ye better preserving
of ye said Library.
"All these things we shall endeavour faithfully to observe & keep, if
through our negligence we shall fail in any of them, we Agree to
subject our selves to ye Penalties mentioned in ye orders Confirmed
by the Court of Common Councill in ye said City."
The Library at this time was clearly a Reference Library, and its
maintenance partly depended on the members who agreed to pay their
"proportions" of 12d. quarterly, and also their equal share in any
charges made for the "better preserving of the Library." The earlier
entries in the Minute Book give a fair record of the proceedings at the
meetings: they record the names of the members present, the names of new
members admitted to the use of the Library, the quarterly payments of the
members, the donations of books, books purchased with money given to the
Library, duplicate books exchanged for other books, the appointments of
the Library Keepers and Under Library Keepers, and other matters
connected with the administration of the Library; but the fulness of the
entries gradually diminishes until the records are little more than lists
of members present, and notes of quarterly payments.
The meetings were held monthly, and on February 6th, 1656, it was
resolved that the meetings should be held on the second Monday in each
month between 2 and 3 o'clock. At that meeting a levy on the members was
recorded: "All the mins present at this meeting deposed Sixpence a piece
in Mr. Collinges hand towards the providing of frames and parchment for
the orders for the regulation of the library, in all 5/-: and ordered
such as were not present if admitted already, or such as hereafter should
be admitted, should at their admission or next appearing at meeting lay
down so much towards the frames and parchment aforesaid, and the buying
of a book to register the Acts of the mins in."
That the members were permitted to enjoy the fragrant weed on the library
premises is evident from an entry under date October 12th, 1657:
"Threepence was laid out for tobacco pipes," and on April 1st, 1690 it
was recorded, "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 and paper, nine shillings."
From many records it is obvious that the City Authorities closely
controlled the administration of the Library. According to the Minute
Book on January 12th, 1673, the members "consented yt Mr Riveley and Mr
Morley should attend yppon the Court to craue their Order for appoynting
the time for ye Ministers Meeting at the Library for future to be uppon
the first Tuesday in every moneth." The request was granted. On 29th
March, 1673, the Court ordered "36s. to be paid for six Russia leather
chairs for City Library." {8}
The library receipts from fees and charges are not regularly entered, but
throughout the Minute Book there are occasional records of receipts and
payments, and under date March 3, 1684, is the following: "This day ye
account of ye Last year was stated. The Library keeper had received 4ll
3s & 4d and had expended 4l 11s 10d--due to Him 8s 6d."
Either as a means of raising additional money for the Library or of
securing a better attendance of members at the meetings it was ordered on
Jan. 15th, 1677 "that all persons that will continue the use & benefitte
of the librarie shall pay for every omission of meeting upon the day
appointed the forfeiture of 2 pence, no excuse to be admitted for
absence; & the said forfeitures are to be dispos'd of every halfe year
according as the major part of psons at yt meeting shall determine." The
Minute Book does not show that the fines for absence were usually
disposed of half-yearly, but the following memorandum was made therein on
April 1st, 1690: "That this day we present cast up ye forfeitures of ye
two last years, viz. 1688, 1689 And the several persons are indebted in
all two pounds, ten shillings & four pence as appears by ye particulars
in ye Book of forfeitures."
For the first 108 years of the Library's existence it remained a
reference library, and books were not lent, but surreptitious borrowing
probably took place occasionally. At any rate on December 2nd, 1684, the
following memorandum was made: "That BP J. Ushers treatise de Macedonum
et Assyriorum [Asianorum] anno solari was missing this meeting yt was, by
ye under-library-keepers attestation here the last meeting and has bin
missing this three weeks, 'tis desired that he that has it would be
pleased to restore it, and not to do any such thing as is contrary to wt
he hath subscribed." By 1716 the members had considered it desirable to
allow the borrowing of books for home reading, and on May 7th, 1716,
occurs the following record of the petition of the members to the City
Court:
"This Society having requested ye Court to give leave yt an order
might be made to render ye Library more usefull it was accordingly
ordered by ye Court
"Norwich. At an Assembly held the third day of May Anno Dnj 1716
"The Petition of ye Clergy about ye Books in ye Library is now agreed
to, so as such care be taken by ye Library-keeper yt there be no loss
of ye Books.
P Cur: Chappell.
"The Articles or Conditions of borrowing any book out of ye Library
are order'd to be written in ye first leave of a Register to be
provided for ye use of ye Society."
"These Articles or Conditions are fortunately written at the end of
the Minute Book, and are as follows:
"First, That every Person taking out any Book, shall enter ye same
into a Book to be provided for yt purpose.
"2dly: That He shall be obliged to return ye same Book or Books wthin
one month from ye time of borrowing, & enter ye return of ye sd Book
in a Column of ye Register opposite to that wherein ye borrowing of
ye sd Book is mention'd.
"3dly: That No Person shall have above ye Number of three Books (from
this Library) at one time, unless ye leave of ye Society be first
Ask'd & obtain'd.
"4thly: That if any damage be done to any Book, He in whose hands it
is shall make it good, & to prevent disputes, if ye Book be damag'd
before taken out of ye Library it shall be shown to ye
Under=library=Keeper.
"5thly: That there be some Persons appointed to assist ye Upper
Library Keeper in calling over ye sd Books ye first Monday of January
next, & so yearly & every year, & yt ye Library Keeper shall have
power to send for & call in such Books as are ytt abroad, & every
person in whose hands any Books have been above ye limited time of
one Month at such days of calling over ye sd Books shall forfeit two
shillings & six pence to be applied to such use as ye Society shall
adjudge proper.
"6thly: That No Person shall be admitted to ye use of this Library,
(Those of this Court excepted) Nor have ye liberty of borrowing any
Book from ye sd Library who are not already, or shall not hereafter
be admitted to ye use of ye sd Library according to ye usages &
Customs of the Society Now in great measure entrusted wth ye Care &
Charge of ye Books of ye sd Library, except such Person shall first
give unto ye sd Library ye sum of fourty shillings or Books to yt
value.
"7thly: Tis agreed yt there be two fair Catalouges made, One to be &
remain wth ye Court of this City, & ye other to be kept in ye
Library, yt ye Library Keeper do get ye sd Catalouges made wth all
convenient speed, yt ye Books be rang'd into some method & order, yt
ye Library Keeper shall take in such assistance as is wanting, & his
charge & trouble be allow'd according to ye discretion of ye
Society."
These rules show that borrowers were permitted to record the books they
borrowed, that they were allowed to retain them for a month, that damaged
books should be reported to the Under Library Keeper before being taken
away, and that a stocktaking fine of 2s. 6d. was provided for in the
event of books not being returned in the January of each year.
The Minutes between 1716 and 1731 chiefly record formal matters, and
little of note regarding the administration of the Library. On February
7th, 1731, "It was then unanimously agreed that the Members meet for the
future on the first Tuesday in every Month at two o'Clock in ye
afternoon." On the 7th of the following month two delinquent borrowers
were dealt with: "Whereas the Revd Mr. Francis Johnson took some time
since the Works of Bishop Bull in 4 volumes 8vo out of this Library, &
has return'd only ye 1st, 3rd & 4th Vols & instead of ye 2d Sherlock on
providence, it Was then Order'd, that that shd be return'd him again, &
that he be requir'd either to send back ye sd 2d vol. or take the
remaining three, & send an entire Sett. Order'd likewise that Mr Morrant
be requir'd to return B-p. Stillingfleets Origines Sacrae, being ye 2d
vol. of his works, Long since taken out by Him."
The regulations for the administration of the Library were again revised
in 1732/3 by the City Council: {11}
"At an ASSEMBLY held on _Feb._ the 24th, 1732/3. the Right Worshipful
the MAYOR, _Sheriffs_, _Aldermen_, and _Common-Council_ this Day
assembled, for the better Regulation of the _Publick Library_, have
unanimously appointed the following ORDERS to be observed, upon Pain
of Exclusion from the said _Library_.
"ORDERED, That the Catalogues already printed be Six Hundred; and
that one Half of them be kept in the Town-Clerk's Office, to be
delivered out to the Members of the Corporation; and the other Half
be left in the Library, to be delivered out to the Subscribers.
"ORDERED, That the Books in the said Library be Annually called over,
in the first Week of _June_, in the Presence of the _Chamberlain_;
and that such books as are found to be Duplicates, be sold by the
_Chamberlain_ and _Library-Keeper_; and that the Money arising by
Sale thereof, be laid out in the Purchasing of such Books as shall be
thought proper by the said Subscribers.
"ORDERED, That after the said Annual Call is finished, the
Subscribers to the said Library, upon their next Monthly Meeting,
have Liberty to choose a _Library-Keeper_ for the Year ensuing.
"ORDERED, That on the Reception of any Book or Books given to the
said Library, the _Donor's_ Name shall be written on the inside Cover
of the Book, and that the _Library-Keeper_ shall Register the same in
the Vellum Book.
"ORDERED, That no Person shall have more than Three Books out of the
said Library at one Time, nor keep them longer than one Month,
without the Consent of the Majority of the Subscribers present at
their Monthly Meeting: And that an Account of every Book Lent, and
the Return thereof, be duly made and enter'd in a Book for that
Purpose.
"ORDERED, That every Person who shall be admitted to the Use of the
said Library, shall declare his full and free Consent to comply with
the said Orders, as far as to him may appertain, according to the
true Intent and Meaning of the same; and particularly with the
following Orders or Articles, by subscribing his Name in the said
_Library-Book_ upon his Admission: And also that all the said Orders,
and the following Articles, shall be entred in the said
_Library-Book_, _viz_:
"_First_, That every Subscriber upon Admission shall pay to the Under
_Library-Keeper_ one Shilling, and also one Shilling Quarterly, for
his Care of, and Attendance at the said Library: And every Subscriber
shall also pay his Proportion of all Charges that may be thought
necessary by the Subscribers, for the better preserving of the Books
in the said Library; or shall be excluded the Use thereof.
"_Secondly_, That if any Book be lent out, and lost or damaged, the
Borrower shall be obliged to make good such Loss or Damage.
"_Thirdly_, The Subscribers have Leave to meet the first _Tuesday_ in
every Month, to inspect the said Library, and take out such Books as
they may have Occasion for, then or at any other Time; and see that
the said Orders and Articles be duly observed.
"_Per Curiam_,
"LODGE." [i.e., Nehemiah Lodge, Town Clerk].
The Minute Book which finishes on April 3rd, 1733, is silent regarding
these new regulations, but Benjamin Mackerell (Librarian of the City
Library from 1724 to 1731) writing in 1737 shewed that they did not
result in improving the management of the Library:
"For some few years it has been a Lending Library and some persons
have had books two or three years together contrary to an order to
the contrary. Here is no salary given by the city for anyone to take
care and the charge of the books upon him only the keys thereof are
left at the house of the Clark of St. Andrews Parish, and any man may
be admitted that will but give him twelve-pence a quarter, but unless
the Corporation would be at the expence of a salary for any sober
discreet person to take the charge of the said books upon himself and
have the sole custody of them, and pecuniary mulcts inflicted upon
such as break the orders already made, there is little hopes of
keeping the books there, or in any good order long together, besides
this is also made use of upon the account of the trustees for the
Charity Schools who frequently meet here, notwithstanding there are
so many more convenient rooms in the said hall. Especially that in
which the Grand Jury meet in at every Assizes. Persons may borrow
two books out of this Library at a time but ought not to keep them
above one month without giving notice to the Library keeper." {13a}
Mackerell's remarks, and the fact that the Minute Book was not filled,
seem to indicate that the Library was neglected for some years. On
September 21st, 1801, the Assembly complied with the request of the
Committee of a subscription library, with the misnomer "Public Library"
(established in 1784 in St. Andrew's Hall) by granting them leave "to
have the use of the books in the City Library, to be kept under the care
of their Librarian apart from other books, the President giving a receipt
for the safe return of the same on demand." {13b} The City Committee
reported to the Assembly in 1805 "that the books in the City Library have
not of late been carefully preserved, that some valuable works have been
mutilated and others lost or mislaid." {13c} The Assembly thereupon
rescinded the order of September 21st, 1801, requested the President and
Committee of the "Public Library" to "make good all losses and injuries,"
and committed the custody of the City Library to the Steward. In 1815
the City Library was again entrusted to the "Public Library." Ten years
afterwards, the "Public Library," which still housed the City Library,
was removed to a building in St. Andrew's Street. The admission fee to
this Library in 1825, as stated in the Catalogue of the Library of that
date, was five guineas, and the annual subscription was one guinea. This
Catalogue contains the following rules regarding the City Library:
"LIV. The books belonging to the City Library having been deposited
in the Library Room of the Public Library, by permission of the
Corporation, are accessible to the subscribers, and may be delivered
out under a written order of the president, or vice-president,
countersigned by an officer of the Corporation.
"LV. The Librarian shall have charge of the books belonging to the
City Library, and shall procure the necessary authority for the
delivery of books to subscribers applying for them.
"LVI. The books belonging to the City Library shall be returned to
the Librarian every quarter day; and the same fines and penalties
shall apply to subscribers not attending to this regulation, or to
losing, lending or injuring books belonging to the City Library,
which are laid down by the laws for the protection of the books
belonging to the Public Library."
In the same catalogue it was stated that the City Library was under the
particular inspection of the Mayor and seven members of the Council who
constituted the Library Committee of the Corporation. "The Right
Worshipful the Mayor of Norwich, for the time being, is an Honorary
Member of the Public Library; and the Members of the Library Committee of
the Corporation, together with the Speaker of the Commons, the Town
Clerk, and the Chamberlain, if not already Members of the Society, have
the privilege of constant access to the Library Rooms during their
continuance of office." {14} These rules were in force in 1847, and were
reprinted in a new edition of the Catalogue printed in that year. The
members of the rival subscription library, called "The Norfolk and
Norwich Literary Institution," which was established in 1822, were also
allowed to borrow books from the City Library, by an order from the
Chamberlain of the City. {15a} In 1835 the "Public Library" with the
City Library was removed to a new building opposite the north door of the
Guildhall, on the site of the present Norfolk and Norwich Subscription
Library.
Ostensibly the City Library was adequately cared for by the "Public
Library," but in reality it was greatly neglected. At a meeting of the
Council on July 10th, 1856, the Town Clerk read a report from the City
Library Committee, stating that they had inspected the books of the City
Library, and "considered them in a very disorderly and dirty condition,
that they could not be compared with the catalogue till they were
re-arranged. They recommended that a grant of 25 pounds should be made
for the rearrangement of the books, and that Mr. Langton [the Librarian]
be employed for that purpose." {15b} In the discussion that ensued Mr.
Ling said some of the books "were lying on the floor, damaged by dust and
cobwebs, and an extremely valuable manuscript of Wickliffe's Bible was in
a bad state." {15c} Mr. Brightwell suggested that the City Library would
be a capital foundation for the Free Library, and the matter was referred
back for the consideration of the City Library Committee. Those
interested in the "Public Library" strove hard to retain the City
Library, and on November 20th, 1856, the following memorial signed by the
President was presented to the Council and discussed:--
To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of Norwich, in Council
assembled. {15d} The Memorial of the Committee of the Norwich Public
Library
Sheweth,--That at a quarterly assembly of the Corporation, held June
19th, 1815, a certain Report of the Library Committee was agreed to,
and consent given for the city books to be taken to the Public
Library under the direction of the same Committee.
That your memorialists have learned with deep regret that it is
contemplated to apply to the Council for power to remove the city
books to the Free Library.
That upon the faith of their tenure of these books, as long as the
conditions imposed were satisfactorily complied with, various sums of
money, to a considerable amount, have from time to time been expended
by your memorialists from the funds of the Public Library in their
preservation.
That the books of the City Library have been embodied in the
catalogues of 1825 and 1847, under the same scientific arrangement as
the books which are the property of the Public Library,
distinguishing those which are the property of the Corporation by a
prominent and appropriate designation; and that therefore by the
removal of the City Library, the catalogue, to which your
memorialists have recently published the first appendix, will be
rendered quite useless and an expense, otherwise unnecessary, will be
incurred.
That although the books of the City Library were recently found in a
very dusty condition; yet that during the 40 years they have been in
the custody of your memorialists, they have suffered no deterioration
from damp, loss, or otherwise.
That the contiguity of the Public Library to the Guildhall affords
the greatest convenience of application to the Town Clerk for
permission to take out books from the City Library, and of the access
of the Library Committee of the Corporation to inspect their
property.
That it is in contemplation to place a fire in the room appropriated
to the City Library, and further to improve it by the insertion of a
large bay-window, which will make it a light and cheerful place for
all who need reference to these ancient and valuable books.
That your memorialists venture to point out the entire
unsuitableness, in their judgment, of works in learned languages, on
abstruse subjects or in black letter, to the objects of the Free
Library.
And your memorialists therefore pray that the books of the City
Library be allowed to remain, as heretofore, in their keeping.
Signed on behalf of the Public Library Committee.
Norwich, Nov. 10th, 1856.
G. W. W. FIRTH, President.
Edward Edwards, in his monumental "Memoirs of Libraries," 1859, (vol. 1,
p. 739) printed the above memorial which he said carried "its refutation
on its face." "On so puerile a production," he continued, "it were idle
to waste words. One remark, however, may be appropriate in anticipation
of the history and objects of the Act of Parliament in pursuance of which
the Free City Library of Norwich has been created. No Institution
established under that Act can with justice address itself to any "class"
of the population in particular. Rate-supported Libraries are _ipso
facto_ "Town Libraries." Their cost is defrayed by ratepayers of all
degrees. It is the imperative duty of every Town-Council so to manage
them as to make them conduce, in the utmost possible measure, to the
researches, the pursuits, and the profit of _every_ class of the
townspeople. For some readers it may also be desirable to add that the
so-called "Public" Library by whose managers this Memorial is drawn up,
is Public in name only."
Notwithstanding the persistent attempts of the "Public Library" on futile
pretexts to retain the City Library, the Council on February 17th, 1857,
decided by a large majority in favour of the removal of the City Library
to the new library building under its own control. Even then the Free
Library Committee had difficulty in securing the books, and it was only
after their repeated applications that the City Library was installed in
the Library in 1862. Mr. John Quinton, the Librarian of the Norfolk and
Norwich Literary Institution, superintended the removal of the books, and
arranged them in their new quarters. The book-plate in the volumes was
printed from a wood-block engraved by his daughter, Miss Jane Quinton, a
student of the Norwich School of Art, which at that time occupied the top
floor of the Library. The books were shelved in cases on the ground
floor until 1879 when they were removed to their present glass cases in
the News Room.
The Council on the 17th March, 1868, agreed to the recommendation of the
City Committee "that the Wyckliffe Bible and other books be committed as
a loan into the custody of the trustees of the [Norfolk and Norwich]
Museum, proper provision to be made for the exhibition and preservation
thereof." {17} Several manuscripts and printed books were sent to the
Museum, and Mr. J. J. Colman, the Mayor in that year, presented to the
city a glass case for the exhibition of the books.
In 1872 the Norfolk and Norwich Law Library, which had just been
established, applied for the loan of between 30 and 40 legal works in the
City Library, and the Council acceded to its request on condition that
any person not a member of the Law Library should have access to the
books, and that the books should be returned to the City Library on
request. A list of the books lent was printed in the Catalogue of the
Law Library published in 1874. The books were returned during the year
ending March, 1900.
The Catalogue of 1883 stated that the following was the rule for the use
of the City books: "A loan of these books may be obtained at the Free
Library, from 11 to 4 on any day of the week excepting Thursday, by
application to the Town Clerk, who will supply a Form to be filled up by
the applicant and forwarded to the Chairman of the Libraries Committee."
Now the books are issued by and at the discretion of the City Librarian,
for use in the Reference Library, in accordance with the rules of the
Public Library.
The City Committee, which is responsible for the City Library, provided
in 1912 a large exhibition case in the Reading Room for the display of
some of the more rare and interesting books.