Public
The development of the free public library has in the main followed a course parallel with that in the United States, the movement toward popularization of exist ing collections and the establishment of new ones occurring simultaneously in both countries. The work of the public library of to-day was formerly done by proprietary and subscription libraries, analogous to the mechanics' libraries in the United States. Some of these, such as the London Library, founded by Carlyle, Glad stone and other distinguished men, are still operative, but in great part they have been absorbed by the public libraries. The most active worker for the establishment of free public libraries. was Edward Edwards, the au thor of
Only two of the great British public libra ries, Dundee, Scotland (1601; 154,922 vols.), and Bristol (1613; 180,825 vols.), were established prior to the 19th century. Indeed, the tremen dous growth in free public libraries has been a very recent thing in all countries. This is indi cated in Great Britain by the fact that some of the most important free libraries in the kingdom have been established during the last few dec ades. Thus Glasgow (430,000 vols.) was founded
in 1877; Lambeth-Tate, London (159,000 vols.). in 1886; Edinburgh Public Library (200,000 vols.), in 1887; Hull (106,000 vols.), in 1892; John Rylands in Manchester (200,000 vols.) is one of the relatively few private endowed li braries in England. This was founded by Mr& E. A. Rylands in 1899 as a memorial to her husband and is housed in a splendid building Its collections are based upon the famous Al. thorp Library, formed by Earl Spencer. Other public libraries of more than 100,000 volumes are Birmingham (1861; 445,675) ; Bolton (1852; 128,322) ; Bradford (1871; 178,035); Cardiff (1862; 221,000) ; Liverpool (1850; 338, 796) ; Guildhall Library, London (1824; 148, 757) ; Westminster, London (125,000) ; Man chester Free Public Libraries (1852; 500,000) ; Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1874; 170,000); Notting ham (1868; 149,657), and Sheffield (1853; 186,551).
Special There are many valu able special collections in Great Britain, among which may be noted: Law: London, Inner Temple (1540; 58,000) ; Lincoln's Inn (1497, 72,000) ; Edinburgh, Signet (1722; 122,000). Political Science Statistics, etc.: London, Brit ish Library of Political Science (1896; 300, 000) ; Foreign Office (75,000 public docu ments) ; Reform Club (1836; 56,000); Royal Colonial Institute (1868; 100,000) ; Royal Sta tistical Society (1834; 50,000). Medicine: Lon don, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (60,000). Science: London, Royal Society (1662; 80,000); Science Museum (105,000) ; British Museum, Natural History Library (1881; 72,000) ; Society of Antiquities (40,000) ; Geological Society (1807; 30,000) ; Linnean Society (17:: ; 35,000); Royal Geographical Society (1830; 50,000) ; Chemical Society (1841; 25,000). Military and Naval Science: London, British Admiralty (1700; 50,000); Royal United Service Institution (1831; 32, 000). Fine Arts: National Art Library (1841; 115,000). Consult Edwards, 'Memoirs of Li braries' (London 1859) ; Garnett, in Librarianship) (London 1899) ; Ogle, Free Library' (London 1897) ; Rye, Li braries of London' ; Savage, 'The Story of Libraries and Book-Collectors' (1909):