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| The decison to build the Free Library
was taken as the Local Government Board, for Camborne, was nearing
the end of tenure, soon to be replaced by the Camborne Urban
District Council by virtue of the Local Government act 1894.
At this time the population was almost 15,000 with a rateable
value of just over £40,000. In accordance with the transitional
arrangements set out in the Act, the appointed Library Committee
remained in place, although not members of the new authority.
This meant that arangements to oversee the building of the Library,
furnishing and supply of books and magazines, as well as the
appointment of Librarian and staff, continued without delay
so that by the time of the opening, in May 1895, the library,
with 2,900 books ready for issue, the Reference Room furnished
with a valuable collection of books mainly provided by gifts
from private individuals and libraries within the town, and
the Reading Room with daily and weekly newspapers and weekly
and monthly magazines and periodicals, was ready. The Ferris
bequest, of £1947. 1s. 11d, was used for furnishing and
largely stocking the library with books, whilst Passmore Edwards.
The "caretaker's residence" in the original plans
was never built although proposals to do so were raised from
time to time. The low wall originally at the front of the library
was removed some years later to make way for road improvements. |
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The first Librarian was Mr W J (Jacob) Laity
of Fore Street, Beacon. By trade he had been a boot and shoe
maker and kept a shop in his back garden where the villagers
brought their shoes for repair. Described as a "knowledgeable
man" he served as Librarian for 14 years, until 1909.
(Early Libraries in Camborne by J F Odgers,
1963.).
Although the cost of providing the library had
been met without charge on the ratepayers, providing the library
service was a different matter, especially at a time when
a fall off in mining lead to a diminishing rate return to
the new Council. Less than the standard 1d rate was provided
to the Librarian and the Library Committee and this was to
continue for a number of years.
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| During the first year 2000 readers tickets were issued and
the number of books issued totalled in the region of 45,000
from a stock that had risen to nearly 5,000. The Reference Library
for many years depended upon gifts an donations and, in 1901-3,
the room was used by the Camborne UDC initally as office accommodation
and then as a Committee Room, for which the sum of £10
per year was paid over to the Library Committee. However, by
1931 1,200 volumes had been secured together with numereous
objects "relating to art, history, science and industry, |
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