Walsall Central Library 1.33

Walsall Central Library is a public library situated in the town centre of Walsall in the West Midlands, in the United Kingdom. It is part of 7 branch libraries and a mobile library service, and was officially opened to the public in 1906. The Central Library comprises a lending library, reference library, learning centre and children's library. It holds information in various formats and languages: books, journals, newspapers and magazines, and there are computer facilities available.HistoryThe first subscription based library in Walsall was opened on 14 November 1800. It was set up in the home of the Rev. Thomas Bowen and was based in Rushall Street Walsall. In 1813 the library moved to a new location at a stationer's shop called "Valentine and Throsby" in the High Street, Walsall.In 1831 St Matthew's Hall was built and became another subscription based public library. The building cost £1,600 to construct and consisted of a reading room (which held over 3,000 books) and a news room. Due to a lack of paying users the building fell into disrepair. All the book stock was relocated to a local printing shop on The Bridge, called J.R.Robinson. When the Free Libraries Act in 1859 was passed (Walsall being the third town in the country to adopt this new Act) a new free Walsall library was created. This new library was allocated money from the council rates and was additionally supported by voluntary subscriptions. Its new location was in Goodall Street, Walsall and it contained approximately 12,300 books. Over the following years the library expanded to include a small saddlery museum and an art gallery. Further developments occurred in 1900 when the Scottish born American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie funded the new build of a new Walsall library with a donation of £8,000.Walsall Central Library opened its doors on 24 July 1906 in Lichfield Street, Walsall. The building was designed by the architect J.S. Gibson who also designed the Council House in Walsall. It took 2 years to build and was opened by Alderman W. Hughes chairman of the Free Library and Art Gallery Committee. Alderman Hughes unlocked the front door with an inscribed silver key. A programme and souvenir was produced to celebrate the opening of the new library.