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5
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE
CLERKENWELL FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The Commissioners in presenting their first annual report
desire to place on record a brief statement as to the progress
made in the organisation of the Library since the adoption
of the Public Libraries' Acts, by the ratepayers of Clerkenwell
in December, 1887. The Commissioners were elected
by the Vestry on January 26th, 1888, and their first meeting
was held immediately thereafter. At this meeting the Rev.
J. H. Rose, M.A., Vicar of the parish, was appointed chairman,
and Mr. Wm. Robson, honorary secretary to the Commissioners,
pending the appointment of a Librarian.
A delay of five months was caused by the action of certain
parishioners who challenged in the Law Courts the validity
of the vote whereby the Libraries' Acts were adopted, and it
was not until an unreserved decision had been given in favour
of the Commissioners, that they were enabled to proceed with
their labours.
The promoters of the movement for the adoption of the
Libraries' Acts were greatly aided and strengthened by the
valuable assistance given them by Robert Major Holborn,
Esq., of Islington, and Captain F. T. Penton, M.P., who
each promised gifts amounting to £600; and it is unquestionably
due in a great measure to the generosity displayed by
these gentlemen that the library was successfully started.
With such substantial help the Commissioners were able to
commence their work, and as a preliminary step they hired a
vacant house at No. 19, Tysoe Street, for use as Temporary
Premises. Their next step was to advertise for a Librarian
and Secretary, and out of 90 applicants they unanimously
appointed Mr. James D. Brown, Assistant-Librarian in the
Mitchell Library, Glasgow, who entered upon his duties
in October, 1888. Mr. Robson, who, up to this date, had