14 FROM THEN TO NOW


Today’s public libraries are open to all and free to use, but this shouldn’t be taken for granted – pioneers laid the foundations, innovators saw the potential and thousands upon thousands of committed library staff helped to shape and deliver services for their changing communities. The notion of a ‘public’ library has evolved over hundreds of years – from the first ecclesiastical libraries in the middle ages to the world’s first paperless library in 2014.


Bradford Central Lending Library pictured in the pre-war years. © Bradford Libraries. Bradford adopted the Free Libraries Act in 1871.


1849


The Select Committee Members included


William Ewart and Joseph Brotherton with Edward Edwards a key witness. They delivered a report extolling the virtues of public libraries in large towns and cities.


1440 Gutenberg press


The mechanical printing press is invented by Johannes Gutenberg, paving the way for a revolution in access to books and information.


1781


Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society


The industrial revolution saw the rise of groups that pooled resources and created collections of materials for members to borrow.


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