Public Libraries Act 1850
The 1850 Act was much more contentious than the Museums Act 1845. The major arguments against the Bill included:
- Although the boroughs were represented by elected bodies, many people argued that the Act enforced taxation without consent.
- There was opposition to the Act simply on the grounds that founding and maintaining the new libraries would mean an increase in taxation at all, consensual or otherwise.
- Concerns were expressed that it would infringe on private enterprise and the existing library provision such as mechanics’ institutes.
- Access to certain publications would neither promote civil society nor act as a form of social control, and libraries would instead become sites of social agitation. This issue was linked to the common concern that extending education to the lower orders of society would lead to libraries becoming working class "lecture halls" "which would give rise to an unhealthy agitation".
- Others felt that there were more pressing concerns, and wondered about the necessity for a library when literacy levels were so low.
In contrast many people favoured it, provided there was a cap on the level of taxation, on the grounds that:
- Public libraries would provide facilities for self-improvement through books and reading for all classes, not just those who were wealthy enough to afford their own private libraries and collections.
- The greater levels of education attained by providing public libraries would result in lower crime rates.
In order to get the Bill passed through Parliament, a number of concessions had to be made to its original content. The compromises made included limiting the Act to boroughs with populations of more than 10,000 where at least two-thirds of local ratepayers had to vote in favour of provision in a local referendum. The Bill would repeal the Museums Act 1845 and so, in order to continue funding museums of arts and science as well as the new free libraries, local rates could be increased, but by no more than ½d per £1. As stated in the Bill however, it was only permitted to spend this levy on library and museum buildings and staff but not on books and other stock.
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