Chapter 21

~Libraries (The Free).~--The first attempt to found a Free Library in this town was the holding of a public meeting in April, 1852, under the provisions of the Museums and Libraries Act of 1850, which allowed of a 1/2d. rate being levied for the support of such institutions. Whether the townsfolk were careless on the subject, or extra careful, and therefore, doubtful of the sufficiency of the 1/2d. rate to provide them, is not certain; but so little interest was shown in the matter that only 534 persons voted for the adoption of the Act, while 363 voted against it, and the question for the time was shelved, as the Act required the assents to be two-thirds of the total votes given. In 1855 the Commissioner of patents presented to the town some 200 volumes, conditionally that they should be kept in a _Free_ Library, and about the same time another proposal was made to establish such a Library, but to no effect. The Act was altered so that a penny rate could be made, and in October, 1859, it was again suggested to try the burgesses. On February 21, 1860, the meeting was held and the adoption of the Act carried by a large majority. A committee of sixteen, eight members of the Council, and eight out if it, was chosen, and in a short time their work was shown by the transfer of 10,000 square feet of land belonging to the Midland Institute, on which to erect a central library, the preparations of plans therefor, the purchase of books, and (April 3, 1861) the opening of the first branch library and reading room in Constitution Hill. Mr. E.M. Barry, the architect of the Midland Institute, put in designs, including Art Gallery, but his figures were too high, being £14,250 10s., the Town Council having only voted £10,500. The plans of Mr. W. Martin, whose estimate was £12,000 were adopted, the Council added £1,500, a loan for the cash was negotiated, and building commenced by Messrs. Branson and Murray, whose tender to do the work for £8,600 was accepted. Thirty-two applications for the chief librarianship at £200 per annum were sent in, the chosen man being Mr. J.D. Mullins, though he was not the one recommended by the Committee. The Central Lending Library (with 10,000 volumes) and Reading-room, with Art Gallery, was formally opened September 6, 1865, and the Reference Library (then containing 18,200 volumes) October 26, 1866. In 1869, the latter was much enlarged by the purchase of 604 square yards of land in Edmund Street, and the total cost of the building came to £14,896. The Branch Library at Adderley Park was opened January 11, 1864; that at Deritend Oct. 2, 1866, and at Gosta Green Feb. 1, 1868. At the end of 1870, the total number of volumes in the whole of the Libraries was 56,764, of which 26,590 were in the Reference, and 12,595 in the Central Lending Library. By 1877, the total number of volumes had reached 86,087, of which 46,520 were in the Reference, and 17,543 in the Central Lending, the total number of borrowers being 8,947 at the Central, 4,188 at Constitution Hill, 3,002 at Deritend, 2,668 at Gosta Green, and 271 at Adderley Park. Meantime several new features in connection with the Reference Library had appeared. A room had been fitted up and dedicated to the reception of the "Shakespeare Memorial Library," presented April 23, 1864; the "Cervantes Library," presented by Mr. Bragge, was opened on a similar date in 1873; the "Staunton Collection" purchased for £2,400, (not half its value) was added Sept. 1, 1875, and very many important additions had been made to the Art Gallery and incipient Museum. For a long time, the Free Libraries' Committee had under consideration the necessity of extending the building, by adding a wing, which should be used not only as an Art Gallery, but also as an Industrial Museum; the Art Gallery and its treasures being located in that portion of the premises devoted to the Midland Institute, which was found to be a very inconvenient arrangement. The subject came under the notice of the Council on February 19th, 1878, when the committee submitted plans of the proposed alterations. These included the erection of a new block of buildings fronting Edmund Street, to consist of three storeys. The Town Council approved the plans, and granted £11,000 to defray the cost of the enlargement. About Midsummer the committee proceeded to carry out the plans, and in order to do this it was necessary to remove the old entrance hall and the flight of stairs which led up to the Shakespeare Memorial Library and to the Reference Library, and to make sundry other alterations of the buildings. The Library was closed for several days, and in the meantime the walls, where the entrances were, were pulled down and wooden partitions were run up across the room, making each department of much smaller area than before. In addition to this a boarded-in staircase was erected in Edmund Street, by which persons were able to gain access to the Lending Library, which is on the ground floor, and to the Reference Library, which was immediately above. A similar staircase was made in Ratcliff-place, near the cab stand, for the accommodation of the members of the Midland Institute, who occupy the Paradise-street side of the building. The space between the two staircases was boarded up, in order to keep the public off the works during the alterations, and the necessary gas supply pipes, &c., were located outside these wooden partitions. The alterations were well advanced by Christmas, and everything bade fair for an early and satisfactory completion of the undertaking. The weather, however, was most severe, and now and then the moisture in the gas-pipes exposed to the air became frozen. This occurred on the afternoon of Saturday, January 11, 1879, and an employé of the gas office lit a gas jet to thaw one of the pipes, A shaving was blown by the wind across this light, it blazed; the flame caught other shavings, which had been packed round the pipe to keep the frost out, and in less than a minute the fire was inside, and in one hour the Birmingham Reference Library was doomed to destruction. It was the greatest loss the town had ever suffered, but a new building has arisen on the site, and (with certain exceptions) it is hoped that a more perfect and valuable Library will be gathered to fill it. In a few days after the fire it was decided to ask the public at large for at least £10,000 towards a new collection, and within a week £7,000 had been sent in, the principal donors named in the list being--

£ s. The Mayor (Mr. Jesse Collins). .. .. .. 100 0 Alderman Chamberlain, M.P. (as Trustee of the late Mrs. Chamberlain, Moor Green) .. .. .. .. 1000 0 Alderman Chamberlain, M.P. .. .. .. .. 500 0 Alderman Avery .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 500 0 Mr. John Jaffray.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 500 0 Mr. A. Follett Osler, F.R.S... .. .. .. 500 0 Mr. John Feeney .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 Mrs. Harrold .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 Mr. Timothy Kenrick .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 Mr. William Middlemore .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 A Friend .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 Mr. James Atkins.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 105 0 Lord Calthorpe .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 0 Lord Teynham.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 0 Mr. Thomas Gladstone.. .. .. .. .. .. 100 0 Messrs. William Tonks and Sons .. .. .. 100 0 Mr. W.A. Watkins.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 0 Mr. and Mrs. T. Scruton .. .. .. .. .. 75 0 Dr. Anthony .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 52 10 Mr. Oliver Pemberton.. .. .. .. .. .. 52 10 Alderman Baker .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Alderman Barrow .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Messrs. Cadbury Brothers.. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. J.H. Chamberlain.. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Alderman Deykin .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. T.S. Fallows.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. J.D. Goodman.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Councillor Johnson .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. William Martin .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Councillor Thomas Martineau .. .. .. .. 50 0 Councillor R.F. Martineau .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. Lawley Parker .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mrs. E. Phipson .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Messrs. Player Brothers .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. Walter Showell .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. Sam Timmins .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 The Rev. A.R. Vardy .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. J.S. Wright and Sons.. .. .. .. .. 50 0 In sums of £20, &c .. .. .. .. .. .. 480 5 In sums of £10, &c .. .. .. .. .. .. 247 2 In sums of £5, &c .. .. .. .. .. .. 169 5 Smaller amounts .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 88 8