Three Centuries of a City Library

THREE CENTURIES OF A CITY LIBRARY

Reading edition

AN HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF THE NORWICH PUBLIC LIBRARY ESTABLISHED IN 1608 AND THE PRESENT PUBLIC LIBRARY OPENED IN 1857

by GEO. A. STEPHEN

City Librarian, Norwich Fellow of the Library Association Silver Medallist of the Royal Society of Arts Author of “Guide to the Study of Norwich,” “Commercial Bookbinding,” etc. Joint-author of “Manual of Library Bookbinding”

NORWICH THE PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMITTEE 1917

Blackfriar’s Church, now called St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, circa 1650. Showing House in which the Public Library was originally established

“I can wonder at nothing more, than how a man can be idle; but, of all other, a Scholar; in so many improvements of reason, in such sweetness of knowledge, in such variety of studies, in such importunity of thoughts. . . . To find wit, in poetry; in philosophy, profoundness; in mathematics, acuteness; in history, wonder of events; in oratory, sweet eloquence; in divinity, supernatural light and holy devotion; as so many rich metals in their proper mines, whom would it not ravish with delight!”—Joseph Hall, Bishop of Norwich, 1641-7.