Public Libraries and Their Rivals

Public libraries developed slowly after the passing of the Public Libraries Act of 1850, which was not mandatory. Opposition largely came from those who objected to paying higher taxes and from publicans and brewers who feared that their trade would be affected by their customers spending leisure time in libraries. The result was that substitutes for public libraries were set up in many places; some were free, and some charged a fee. Examples include religious libraries, mechanics’ institutes, mutual improvement and co-operative societies, hostels (e.g. the Young Men’s Christian Association), and clubs.