Manchester Free Library
Encyclopedia
The Manchester Free Library opened on 2 September 1852 in Manchester
, England. It was the first to be set up up under the provisions of the Public Libraries Act 1850
, which allowed local authorities to impose a local tax
of one penny
to pay for the service. The terms of the Act required that a poll of ratepayers had to be held before the local authority was allowed to spend money on public libraries, and at least two-thirds had to vote in favour. In Manchester's case only 40 of the more than 4000 eligible voters opposed.
The project was the initiative of John Potter
, the Mayor of Manchester, who started a fund to raise money for the purchase of books and a suitable building to house them. On its opening the library had a stock of 18,028 books, purchased at a cost of £4156. So busy was it during its first week that a police officer was assigned to control the crowd around the borrowing desk.
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England. It was the first to be set up up under the provisions of the Public Libraries Act 1850
Public Libraries Act 1850
The Public Libraries Act 1850 was an Act of the United Kingdom Parliament which first gave local boroughs the power to establish free public libraries...
, which allowed local authorities to impose a local tax
Rates (tax)
Rates are a type of property tax system in the United Kingdom, and in places with systems deriving from the British one, the proceeds of which are used to fund local government...
of one penny
Penny (British pre-decimal coin)
The penny of the Kingdom of Great Britain and later of the United Kingdom, was in circulation from the early 18th century until February 1971, Decimal Day....
to pay for the service. The terms of the Act required that a poll of ratepayers had to be held before the local authority was allowed to spend money on public libraries, and at least two-thirds had to vote in favour. In Manchester's case only 40 of the more than 4000 eligible voters opposed.
The project was the initiative of John Potter
John Potter (Liberal politician)
Sir John Potter was a Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom.- Early life :John was born in April 1815 at Polefield near Prestwich, Lancashire. He was the eldest son of Sir Thomas Potter and his second wife, Esther née Bayley...
, the Mayor of Manchester, who started a fund to raise money for the purchase of books and a suitable building to house them. On its opening the library had a stock of 18,028 books, purchased at a cost of £4156. So busy was it during its first week that a police officer was assigned to control the crowd around the borrowing desk.