New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions . a library in itself. Thewell worn volumes, which are now in the Free Public Library,bear testimony to the thoroughness with which its pages were readand consulted. But the desire for books outgrew the set of encyclopedias, andthe Library Society and Social Library followed. Then the threesocieties were united under the name of the New Bedtord Social 78 NEW BEDFORD. Library. For nearly a half century this collection of books was theprincipal source whence was supplied the desire of the people forknowledge and in
New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions . a library in itself. Thewell worn volumes, which are now in the Free Public Library,bear testimony to the thoroughness with which its pages were readand consulted. But the desire for books outgrew the set of encyclopedias, andthe Library Society and Social Library followed. Then the threesocieties were united under the name of the New Bedtord Social 78 NEW BEDFORD. Library. For nearly a half century this collection of books was theprincipal source whence was supplied the desire of the people forknowledge and intellectual recreation, and it was a feature in mould-ing the characters of the young men and women of that day. May 24, 1851, an act was passed by the General Court ofMassachusetts, authorizing cities and towns to establish and main-tain public libraries. Forty-five days after the passage of theenabling act, Warren Ladd, who was at that time a member of thecommon council, introduced an order to consider the expediencyof adopting the measure. The order passed the popular brancli. \*>C<X ** FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY. unanimously, but the aldermen non-concurred. Early in the follow-ing year a large petition, headed by James B. Congdon, was presentedto the council, requesting the adoption of the act. The committeeon public instruction, to which the matter was referred, reportedrecommending an appropriation of $1500 tor the establishment of thelibrary. In its report the committee stated that it had been assuredthat provided the authorities should, by the passage of the ordermaking the appropriation asked for, establish the principle that themaintenance of a free citv library for the continuous education of thepeople will be the settled policy of the city, the five thousand vol-umes of the New Bedford Social Library would be transferred tothe city.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookidbedfordmassa, bookyear1889
