116 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF NORWICH AND DISTRICT 
having decided to adopt the Act subsequently purchased a site and erected 
the present central library which was opened in 1857. 
In 1920 the open access system was adopted in the lending library and 
immediately there was a great increase in the number of issues. 
In 1921 Sir Eustace Gurney presented the historic Lazar House to the 
city for the purpose of a branch library, and it was opened in November 
1923. Additional branch libraries were erected and opened at the 
Earlham and Mile Cross Housing Estates in 1929 and 1931 respectively. 
The lending libraries consist of about 70,000 volumes in all departments 
of knowledge. The news and reading rooms at the central and branch 
libraries contain a representative selection of leading newspapers and 
periodicals. The Reference Library contains about 33,000 volumes. 
The Central Library is an approved depository for manorial documents 
and the local collection has a rich store of material, valuable, not only to 
the antiquary, but to all those who desire to know something of the 
literature and art of the county or its natural and geological history. The 
local collection now comprises 9,173 volumes, 12,656 pamphlets, 8,216 
topographical prints, 1,925 portraits, 453 maps and several hundred 
manuscripts. A valuable adjunct to the local collection is the Norfolk 
and Norwich Photographic Survey Record which was inaugurated in 
January 1913, the object being to preserve by permanent photographic 
process, records of antiquities, art, architecture, geology, and palzontology, 
natural history, passing events of local or historical importance, portraits, 
old documents, prints and characteristic scenery of the county of Norfolk. 
The record now numbers 5,847 prints and 3,052 slides. 
The libraries are bureaux of information and as such play an important 
part in the life of the city. 
Courses of free public lectures are arranged throughout the winter 
months, and the staff of the libraries co-operate with local educational 
societies by providing books to meet their requirements and preparing 
special book lists in connection with lectures. 
CONCLUSION. 
I must not close this article without referring to one of the latest 
developments, namely the erection of new buildings for the carrying on of 
the administrative work of the city. These buildings will occupy a site 
between St. Peter Mancroft Church and the Guildhall and the site is 
undoubtedly a unique one and worthy of a splendid building. The 
Council regarded the scheme as of such importance that they inaugurated 
an architectural competition which attracted 143 competitors. The 
winning design was submitted by Messrs. James and Pierce of Bedford 
Place, Bloomsbury Square, London, and has been approved by the Fine 
Arts Commission. 
