42 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE WITH REFERENCE 

 TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FREE LIBRARY 

 AND MUSEUM AT HEREFORD. 



Gentlemen of the Woolhope Club, 



Your Committee appointed last year to act with the Committee of the Town 

 Council with a view to carry out the scheme of a Free Library Museum for the 

 City of Hereford have now the honour of laying their report before you. 



At their first meeting on the 11th of March the whole scheme was duly ex- 

 plained and discussed, and it was resolved to obtain a site suitable for the purpose, 

 and the Town Council were asked to take the necessary steps, to call a public 

 meeting of the inhabitants in order to obtain a vote of approval of the scheme so 

 that the " Public Libraries Museum Act " might be put in force. 



The Sub-Committee appointed to inspect the various sites which were offered 

 carefully visited and inspected ten different sites, ^nd after much discussion it 

 was at length determined that the property in Broad- street, adjoining Canon 

 Musgrave's residence and nearly opposite to the Post-office, was the most eligible. 



That site was accordingly purchased. 



On the 31st July thepublic meeting was held and the citizens of Hereford ap- 

 proved of the scheme and determined unanimously to adopt the "Free Libraries 

 Maseam Act." 



At the next meeting of the Joint Committee, after learning the'result of the 

 public meeting, it was resolved that a Sub-Committee, consisting of the Mayor of 

 Hereford, Mr. J. F. Symonds, Mr. J. Kankin, Mr. T. Cam, and Dr. BuU, should 

 be appointed to take into consideration the best mode of carrying out the scheme, 

 and that the same Committee, with the addition of the Kev. H. Cooper Key, be 

 appointed for the purpose of preparing the necessary plans for the new building. 



On the 2nd of September the Sub-Committee reported to the Joint Com- 

 mittee, and the result was that a report was agreed upon to be sent up to the 

 Town CouncU asking them to put the " Free Libraries Museum Act " in force 

 and to appoint a Committee of Management, and to open the Institution as soon 

 as possible in temporary premises. 



This report was agreed to at the next meeting of the Town Council, and a Com- 

 mittee of Management was appointed, into whose hands all further details for the 

 carrying out of the scheme were placed, and so ended the labours of the Joint 

 Committee. 



Your Committee cannot close this report without referring to the fact that the 

 Free Library has been opened, and although the premises are confined and incon- 

 venient, yet the attendance has been cons'^e:ably beyond expectation, and your 



