Who remembers the library at the bottom of Dame Agnes St?
I first went there when I was maybe 9 or 10
and the first book I borrowed was titled The American Civil War.
As far as I can remember it was just one room but divided into three:
adults fiction and non-fiction
and at the back in a sort of alcove the children's section.
(Richard Smura)
join the conversation here
I first went there when I was maybe 9 or 10
and the first book I borrowed was titled The American Civil War.
As far as I can remember it was just one room but divided into three:
adults fiction and non-fiction
and at the back in a sort of alcove the children's section.
(Richard Smura)
join the conversation here
Nottingham Evening Post -
Wednesday 18 September 1935
NEW BRANCH LIBRARY OPENED.
CATERING FOR READERS
DAME AGNES STREET DISTRICT.
The book lending department of the Dame Agnes Street branch of the Nottingham Public Library, after being closed for a number of years, was re-opened last night. This lending library was closed because it was thought that the needs of the district would be well served by the Carlton-Road branch, but residents apparently have not been going there, and in view of requests from the Dame Agnes Street area it was decided to re-open. We want to find out what the needs of this district are." said Mr. Duncan Gray, the City Librarian, to a Post reporter last night, '" and this comparatively small collection of books is in the nature of an experiment."
There was abundant evidence to indicate that new branch will be in demand. Within a quarter of an hour of re-opening 70 people had placed their names on the register, and 14 books had been issued. There are about 1,000 books on the shelves at present, but this number will be added to according the needs of the district. All the books—the majority of them fiction - were new, and their illustrated covers looked very attractive to all who came into the library. The premises, which were in rather dilapidated condition some years ago, have been re-decorated and repaired, and slight structural alterations have been effected. The outside of the library has also been painted, and the reading room upstairs in addition. The volumes on the shelves, which have accommodation for 4.000 or 5,000 books, have been carefully chosen, and in the reference department the works are up to date. Unlike some libraries, the branch in Dame Agnes-Street has no wicket or turnstile entrance, and a different system of book checking means of a reader's ticket inserted in the book or filed in cabinet when a volume is on loan is being tried.
Wednesday 18 September 1935
NEW BRANCH LIBRARY OPENED.
CATERING FOR READERS
DAME AGNES STREET DISTRICT.
The book lending department of the Dame Agnes Street branch of the Nottingham Public Library, after being closed for a number of years, was re-opened last night. This lending library was closed because it was thought that the needs of the district would be well served by the Carlton-Road branch, but residents apparently have not been going there, and in view of requests from the Dame Agnes Street area it was decided to re-open. We want to find out what the needs of this district are." said Mr. Duncan Gray, the City Librarian, to a Post reporter last night, '" and this comparatively small collection of books is in the nature of an experiment."
There was abundant evidence to indicate that new branch will be in demand. Within a quarter of an hour of re-opening 70 people had placed their names on the register, and 14 books had been issued. There are about 1,000 books on the shelves at present, but this number will be added to according the needs of the district. All the books—the majority of them fiction - were new, and their illustrated covers looked very attractive to all who came into the library. The premises, which were in rather dilapidated condition some years ago, have been re-decorated and repaired, and slight structural alterations have been effected. The outside of the library has also been painted, and the reading room upstairs in addition. The volumes on the shelves, which have accommodation for 4.000 or 5,000 books, have been carefully chosen, and in the reference department the works are up to date. Unlike some libraries, the branch in Dame Agnes-Street has no wicket or turnstile entrance, and a different system of book checking means of a reader's ticket inserted in the book or filed in cabinet when a volume is on loan is being tried.
Nottingham Evening Post - Wednesday 01 July 1931
EDITOR'S LETTER BAG
Dame Agnes-street Library.
I wonder when the library in Dame Agnes-street will be opened again. I have made inquiries, but cannot get to know anything. I think it is a shame such a library should be shut up for nine months when any one like mesself, has been hard at work all day and is looking forward to a quiet read. It is much too far to the Central library or other branch libraries, particularly if one is lame.
"Lover of Reading"
Dame Agnes-street Library.
I wonder when the library in Dame Agnes-street will be opened again. I have made inquiries, but cannot get to know anything. I think it is a shame such a library should be shut up for nine months when any one like mesself, has been hard at work all day and is looking forward to a quiet read. It is much too far to the Central library or other branch libraries, particularly if one is lame.
"Lover of Reading"
Nottingham Evening Post - Wednesday 03 March 1909
ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST.
The residents in the St Anns Well Road district have thanks mainly to the efforts of Councillor Clarke have been provided with a branch free lending library which was formally opened last evening by Councillor F.......... For some time the necessity of supplementing the existing reading room in Dame Agnes street by a lending library has been under official consideration ...................................was raised to Councillor Clarke;s .................................the requirements of the populous ...............................be catered for by transforming the .................................the old reading-room - which has ...............................used as an institute in connection with St Ann's Church into a lending library. The library already contains 2,800 volumes, but it has been fitted up with remarkable economy, ..................of the the books have been supplied from other branch libraries and from the reserve stock ..................kept for purposes of extension at head-quarters The fittings have been furnished from the central and other libraries, so that the cost to the ratepayers is practically nil. |
Nottingham Evening Post - Thursday 08 January 1885
Transcription downloaded - but needs editing to match the above text- for ease of reading the article
NEW READING ROOM IN ST. ANN'S DISTRICT. night a free public reading-room for the' 1 -. Ann's district was opened the Adelphi Building, Wlikehead-streot. This is the first place the series j provided out the special grant of £1,500 made the Corporation, the objec'. being to encourage, j much possible, a taste for reading amongst all classes. The room is oa second fl ,or the building which was intended for the Adelphi Hotel. has been | rented temporarily, and should the venture prove successful there is doubi that irfll be continued. attendant has been and there will always I oe someone the premises from 10 o'clock in tho morning until 'J ,'JO the evening. The length of the j room about 50:r. ami the width averages 201't. most furnished with chairs tables, the , last named articles having been supplied tho tech- meal schoo'. The room is well lighted in every way, it bright and airy, and it sure be a place of genera! resort. There are 250 volumes of and general reading m the library, and the place will well sup. with newspapers and periodicals. The cost for tho hist year estimated' at about which is sum considering the result of tho labours of the committee. There was good attendance the opening c , Jren)ony J:lst njf , Mj ._ T> pre sided, and there were, also present—Mr. ' ', il U - J - Davie,, Mr. Dowse, and otliers. * The said that, at the general request cf the University College and Free Library Committee, he ;, P»eared before them on that occasion. As a new generation was wringing .since ti:e establishment tree libraries Nottingham, perhaps it would not bo amiss he gave them brief account of how free | libraues were begun England and Nottingham. Ho recollected that a meeting was called some 17 years ago to express dissatisfaction with the proposed free library rates in tha town. It was a very large one, and it was held the Scots Grey. Two or three friends went with him for the purpose endeavouring convince those assembled that they were not going anything rash, but that the contrary they were going to try everything possible for the benefit the people. Instead of a vote of censure being passed on them, they carried the meeting with them. (Applause,) 1850 a geotlewan named Ewart roused the country from its lethargy proposing in the House of Commons a Permissive Pill enabling different towns r.nd localities establish tree libraries. That was passed, and power was given to municipalities levy a rate of id. in the pound for the erection of libra rebuilding*, j but not for the purpose of purchasing books. It was soon found that amendment would have made, and that Consisted of a rate Id. the pound being allowed for the erection of buildings and the purchase of books ami newspapers. Municipalities were obliged to convene a public meeting, and, on the merit principle, two-thirds v majority before they could levy a rafo. the year 18(»7 a tew individuals -Nottingham awoke the necessity of stirring the town in education d matters. That was before the Education Act came into force, and there was much apathy that respect that was something was done. At that time towns the kingdom had acc-pted the Act, and was thought quite time that Nottingham should follow suit. As an inducement to the lowa Councd to favour the mutter a few gentlemen subscribed several pounds each, and purchased from the O.d Artisans' Library Company the whole (heir books and furniture at their promises Thurlandatre'et. They obtained them a very reasonable rate, and altogether they were treated a handsome manner. That formed the nucleus their library. The question was brought before the Council, and was passed unanimously, a committee being formed to investigate the matter so that nothing should rashly. A report was made, and the Council that a public meeting should be held. It took place in tho ExchangH Rooms, Mr. Thackeray, the Mayor, presiding. At the desire the committee oe (Mr. Starey) brought forward the nutter, and he was supported amongst others Mr. Mhndella, who was always first and foremost educational matters. He saw that that day lie had opened a new Board School at Folkestone. (Ai pause.) Singular to say that meeting was the only instance record of the Act being adopted with only one dissentient voice. London they cculd not ge . majority, and he thought, they Nottingham i-iiowed their enlightenment. could name the who voted against the adoption the Act, for he was olive yet, and he mentioned that after library was established no one took out more books did. Having passed through the preliminaries they located themsolves in tho Artisans' Company's old library temporarily. They began a very small way. At that time the ratab value the town was comparatively small, and the 11. in the pound rate eh the Council granted brought little more than £1,000 a year. Now yielded upwards of £3,000. Thay at oiica saw that the venturo was going to success, for they had large of members, and the thing prospered. As soon as they could, with the little space at their disposal, they established reading-room, which newspapers were supplied. Then they begun to think that they ought not confined small place.and that they ought to develop in order to make the schema of re benefit to the public. They accordingly established small branch in Carier-gate. That was afterwards removed to Sneiiiton where had fl lurished ever since. the course of time, as they were aware the University Buildings were opened the of June, by Prince Leopold. They wert thrown open to the public August, 1881, including the pubic museum and the lending and reference library. They had been progressing ever since. At the same time they took the patent library, comprising several thousand volumes, which were formerly kt.pt at the Municipal Offices. They were furnished the Government, and ware now accessible all the people tho town. They commenced with about 10,000 books, but they had to buy a great, many addition to those they obtained from the Artisans' Library. The institution had developed to such extent that they had now 40,003 books. The issues were small at first, but last year they numbered 150,000 volumes. (Applause.) Afterwards they thought that they would extend their circle, and so the spring of they established a branch library in Mayliuldgrove, the Meadows, there being a reading-room shnnt vnlnmu Tim Iho Sn»- - - ton district became .so numerous that the Council was asked to grant more money that other branches might instituted, and tbat they did. Last year the Council granted them £1.500, so that they might found seven other branches. That sum was irrespectiv the library Id. the pound, and the committee honed that means to establish moro branches than the number named. With reference to the reading-room, assured them that they were much obliged their representative, Mr. Uowson, for the great trouble he had taken the 0 d, ** °vered that room, and they considered that it was tho centre of 18 000 people Within a very small area, thought it would seen that it was a most desirable spot. The ram had been furnished the technic! scl.ools-(applause)- and those tables and bookcases proved that they could really do very well thore. In mechanical matters they could turn out 10 horse-power engine, doing all the casting themselves. They saw what great advantages tho young men of the present day had in such matters. The simply papers to that room included 15 dailies, IS weeklies, and nine monthlies, four weeklies being presented, He liked to read his newspaper, and he thought they all did, for it was a growing taste. L».t them think for moment the public press was. dropped the same thought thousands minds at the same moment. It was a very great power.and there was great responsibility on all people connected with it to use the power rightly. Soon after the establishment the central library.it was suggested by several cf their friends, including Mr. Samuel Morley, that it would be very c that th.v c should be a library for children. Tho gent'eman whose name he had mentioned, with the greatest kindness jriye to the town expend matter. (Applause.) The college buildings, large as they were, were fnund to bequito unequal to supply the want, and the.y took a small building Shakes* pearo-street, belonging to Trinity Church, until more suitable place cculd be secured. That effort had been most successful. They had hosts children who not only came to read there, but who took home book*. Another feature was that they had provided a private reading-room for ladies at the college, so that they had the opportunity of reading by themselves should like correct a little error which seemed to have crept over the town. An opinion seem>-d to have gained ground that those libraries and reading rooms were only for working men, aud the betterclass of people kept away from them. That was very great mistake. Their library was undoubtedly tbe finest the county and if all people did not make use it they had themselves to blame. In addition the libraries had mentioned they had estab'ished others. There was ono at Bulwell and one at Basford, but unfortunately the latter being badly situated, did not succeed and they were just in,w the point of opening a firtt-olae, one at Now Some gentleman there off-red a library containing 3,000 volumes the Corporation, on that it was added to and supported the Wil WBffl ' The 1,:, d accepted that offer and had added BOG volumes. They were now being classifaed and Catalogued, and itwould opened in about three weeke. They had others in contemplation. read als«er had received from Mr. JaoSby, resetting that absence from home would prevent his present that night. considered it most important that reading-rooms should in all the districts, and thought that was matter of congratulation that the Corporation should guided by a fine spirit of wisdom in meeting the wants of the ratepayers in that respect. They often fault with the Corporation for spending money improperly, but it struck him (Mr. Storey) that they were very wise in their ezpDiiditure. had desire cultivate the mental and moral faculties ot the community, it rested with them to make of what was provided for them. thought there would be lack appreciation in that district, and trusted that room would be of benefit, to all concerned. The books would chanced from time to time, but they would not be lent out owing to the great labour thereby entailed. wished the institution every success. Mr. DowsON, in the course of short address referred to tho valuable services Mr. hud rendered to the town, going in heartily for the extension of those ibraries The value of those places could not overrated. They had not realised yet of what usefulness they w-uld when scattered broadcast the great centres ol population. The The Rev. D. spoke the progress the town had made since had been in it, naml year, an showed how -reut the extension bad b-cn Ann s parish. congratulated the dffi acquirement of that room, and hoped that ii long devoted for that purpose. P that lk Would Mr. moved vote thanks n,. • Kp '""'- i™i»,d
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facebook group:
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