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Rate. (Applause.) Birmingham, which is not ten times the size of
Clerkenwell, has, besides a very fine central library, ten branch libraries,
and no one complains that there are too many. Though some of these
branches are as close together as our central library and this branch,
not one is found superfluous, but, on the contrary, highly successful,
and if there is any outcry at all it is in favour of having more branches.
Those present nearly all knew of the difficulties with which they had
to contend with in the central institution. Its establishment and working
was very uphill work for the Committee of Management, who had to
face opposition not only in the Vestry, but in the parish generally. It
was very difficult work, but they had succeeded. Unpretentious as was
the beginning they were now making in Pentonville, he looked forward
to it as a good thing, not alone for the inhabitants of that portion of
Clerkenwell, but also for those of the slice of Islington which was to
be incorporated in the Borough of Finsbury under the new Act. Some
opponents of the establishment of that branch argued that there was
no necessity for it, as the Central Library was sufficiently convenient
that any one who required a book could, without much loss of time,
fetch it. But they must remember that it was a very densely populated
neighbourhood, studded over with model dwellings, mainly inhabited
by the industrial classes, who toiled long and hard, and who, when
they returned to their homes at night, were not inclined to further exertion.
If a book was at hand, they might remain at home during the
evening, but with nothing to fill their leisure and occupy their minds,
the probability was that they would seek relaxation in the glare and
chatter of an adjacent public-house. He himself at one time was much
prejudiced against public libraries, but since he had been a member
of the Committee of Management he had derived great pleasure and
instruction from reading, in fact, he had found in the well-filled and
carefully selected book-shelves of the Clerkenwell Library a source of
enjoyment that he had never in his life experienced before. This conclusively,
to his mind, proved that if they expected improvement in the
habits of the people they must offer them some counter attractions to
those which many now too frequently indulged in in their spare moments.
They must, therefore, rejoice that they were able to place this establishment
in that district, where it was very much required by the people.
Referring again to the extension of district libraries in Birmingham, he
said that that town was the most forward in the United Kingdom in
everything that an Englishman was proud of. [A voice : Except in
politics. (Laughter.)] He was not there in a political capacity, so he
would not discuss the point. If by their patronage of the Institution
the people of the district showed that they appreciated the efforts of
the committee, they would not alone increase the accommodation, but
would try at some future date to establish a fully equipped library in
their midst. The Chairman concluded by formally declaring the
establishment open.
Mr. Crowle-Smith begged to propose that a hearty vote of thanks
be given to their Chairman for his kindness in declaring the branch
open, and for his hospitality. (Hear, hear.) He might say that the
action of the Library Committee was due directly to the mandate they
had received from the electors of No. 1 Ward. It was a significant
fact., and one that should not be overlooked, that the body of gentlemen
who were returned from that ward to the Vestry, while some of them
differed diametrically in politics, were unanimous—speaking for the
residents—that that Branch Library should' be opened, and it was in
response to that wish that these rooms were now ready for use. (Applause.)
He need not tell those that knew him that he was an