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6
acted as honorary secretary, was then unanimously elected
vice-chairman by his colleagues. Meanwhile the question of
a permanent Library building had been under the consideration
of the Commissioners,and after various negotiations they
received from the Worshipful Company of Skinners the offer
of a site on terms which can only be regarded as favourable
in the extreme. The Company agreed to let on lease for 80
years a plot of ground at the junction of Skinner and Whiskin
Streets, extending to over 3000 superficial feet, at an annual
rental of forty shillings. The Commissioners accepted this
offer with the utmost pleasure, as it furnished them with
a good central and accessible site at a nominal charge, and
relieved them from a large portion of the expense preliminary
to the building of a suitable Library; and they now place on
record their high sense of the Company's generosity and
interest in the well-being of the inhabitants of Clerkenwell.
It was decided to open a news-room in the ground-floor
of the temporary premises, 19, Tysoe Street, pending the
arrangements for a permanent home for the Library, and on
November 20th, 1888, at 5 o'clock, this was done. There had
been an informal ceremonial earlier in the day to mark the
occasion, and at this Captain Penton, M.P., R. M. Holborn,
Esq.; Herbert E. Draper, Esq, and E. H. Burnell, Esq.,
representatives of the Skinners' Company, and other donors
attended and wished prosperity to the Library. Since
its opening the Newsroom has been so successful as to
justify the hope, that, in more spacious and adequate
premises the Free Library will ultimately become the most
popular and cherished institution in the parish. The staff
are now actively engaged in the preparation and cataloguing
of nearly 10,000 volumes of popular works for the Lending
Library, which will be available for the use of the inhabitants
in a few weeks. For further details of the work thus far
accomplished by the Commissioners, reference must be made
to the lists and other particulars furnished as an appendix
to this report.
In conclusion the Commissioners express the hope that
in the course of a few months the inhabitants of Clerkenwell