Catalogue description Southampton City Council: Public Libraries

This record is held by Southampton Archives Office

Details of SC/LY
Reference: SC/LY
Title: Southampton City Council: Public Libraries
Description:

Records of The Public Libraries Department

Date: 1888 - 1992
Held by: Southampton Archives Office, not available at The National Archives
Language: English
Creator:

Southampton City Council, Public Libraries

Physical description: 13 series
Immediate source of acquisition:

These records were deposited January 1966 (Acc. 1325), July 1966 (Acc 1349), April 1971 (Acc 2421)

Subjects:
  • Southampton, Hampshire
  • Local government
Administrative / biographical background:

The Public Libraries Act of 1850 gave boroughs the right to levy rates for the provision of a free library. It was not until 1887 that this Act was adopted in Southampton, after the local Parliamentary Debating Society and the Council of the Hartley Institution passed resolutions leading to the calling of a public meeting. The resulting Libraries Committee met for the first time in January of 1888, and a year later the town's first free library was opened in two rooms over a stable in St Mary's Street.

 

The foundation stone for a new Library (on the site of New Place House, London Road) was laid on 31st August 1892 by the mayor, James Lemon; the completed Central Library was opened on 29th July 1893. On 26th April, 1939, the Central Library reopened in a new home - the Civic Centre.

Link to NRA Record:

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