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; [W.] 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; [W.] 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-.