View report page

193
the land on these or more favourable terms in view of the purpose for which it was
required, and of the fact that the present building would probably have to be demolished.
The Company declined, to the Commissioners disappointment, to reduce their offer, so
that the negotiations fell through.
The Commissioners have great pleasure in reporting that they have received a
donation of £10 from the Worshipful Company of Cloth workers, London, for books,
and also a very handsome promise of 1,000 volumes from Mr. Passmore Edwards, M.P.
who has made such munificent gifts to the libraries of adjoining parishes. The Commissioners
have passed hearty votes of thanks to these donors, who by their valuable gifts
have encouraged and assisted the Commissioners in appealing for further donations from
the public.
The Commissioners have also made a small purchase of £6 worth of books, or
about 100 volumes.
The Commissioners, feeling that the time had arrived for the appointment of their
Chief Librarian and Clerk, inserted the following advertisement for candidates once in
The Times, and Athenaum, and twice in the Daily Telegraph, Baity News, and Daily
Chronicle:—
"LIBRARIAN.—The Shoreditch Public Libraries and Museums Commissioners
invite applications for the office of Chief Librarian and Clerk to
the Commissioners. Previous experience in the management and fitting-up
of Public Libraries essential. Salary to commence at £150 per annum,
rising (subject to the approval of the Board) by annual increments of £10
to a maximum of £200 per annum."
Fifty-nine applications were received, from which fourteen candidates were selected
for interview. The Commissioners finally unanimously appointed as their Chief
Librarian and Clerk, on the terms of the advertisement, Mr. William Charles Plant,
Chief Librarian and Curator of the Public Library, Buxton, which office he had held
for three years.
Mr. Plant had been eight years previously Librarian of a Literary Institute at Leek,
and four years Foreign Correspondent to Mr. Matthew Knowles, Silk Manufacturer. Leek.
Mr. Plant entered on his duties on the 25th March, 1892.
At the commencement of the Commissioners' work the Vestry Clerk, Dr. H. Mansfield
Robinson offered to act as Hon. Sec. to the Commissioners till the appointment of a
Clerk and Librarian, and the Commissioners accepted his otter and appointed him as
their Hon. Sec.
They have now unanimously passed the following resolution:
That the best thanks of the Commissioners be given to Dr. Robinson for his
"very valuable services as Hon. Sec. during the past year, and that he he
"asked.to kindly continue as their Hon. Sec. permanently."
r1