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the report
of the
Commissioners of Public Libraries and
Museums,
for the year ending 25th march, 1893.
The Commissioners have great satisfaction in recording a
very successful year's working, and in order to make clear the
present state of development since the adoption of the Public
Libraries Acts in Camberwell, it may be useful to give a brief
outline of the chief incidents connected therewith.
In 1888 Mr. George Livesey announced his desire to give a
suitable site and buildings in the Old Kent Road if the Parish
would adopt the Acts. This munificence prompted a poll with a
very decisively favourable result. At the very first meeting of
the Commissioners, the Chairman announced another gift, that of
a beautiful building in Knatchbull Road, given by Mr. William
Minet. The site being adjacent to Lambeth Parish, a clause
was inserted in the Libraries' Acts Amendment Bill then passing,
allowing joint control and maintenance. The building was opened
in July, 1890, by Sir Lyon Playfair. Meanwhile in January a
Chief Librarian had been appointed for Camberwell ; temporary
premises rented in High Street, Peckham, and the Library was
in full working order in March. In October, the Livesey Library
was opened by Sir Edward Clarke, the worthy founder handing
over the deeds to the Chairman of the Commissioners, Mr. George
Crispe Whiteley.