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141
urge upon the Ratepayers generally the advisability of
adopting the Free Libraries Act in the Parish of Camberwell.
From enquiries made in Parishes where the Libraries
Act has been adopted, your Committee have ascertained that
the cost of providing a Library is about £5,000, and of
maintaining the same £500 a year.
Your Committee are of opinion that four Libraries
would be required to accommodate the inhabitants of this
extensive Parish. The sum of £20,000 would therefore be
required to establish the Institutions, and about £2,000 a
year for the maintenance of the same.
Of the £20,000 required, the generous offer of Mr.
Livesey may be taken to represent £5,000, which leaves
£15,000 to be raised from other sources.
Your Committee believe that the Rate collected under
the Libraries Act should be used for the maintenance only of
the Institutions, which would limit the necessary Rate to the
maximum of a halfpenny in the pound, and increase the
chance on appeal to the Ratepayers of carrying the proposals.
Your Committee need not remind the Vestry of the
great advantages to be gained by placing Free Libraries in
different parts of this Parish.
They strongly urge the Vestry to seize the present
favourable opportunity of inviting other Parishioners to
follow the example of Mr. Livesey, and to endeavour to
bring about the adoption, by the Parish of Camberwell, of a
measure which is likely to confer great benefits upon the
community.