who
desire to know something of the literature and art of the county, or its
natural and geological history, or the part played by Norfolk and Norwich
in the general history of England. Further, the Library, being
encyclopaedic in character, may be regarded as a bureau of information,
and as such it is playing an important part in the educational,
industrial and social life of the City.

_Printed by Jarrold & Sons_, _Ltd._, _Norwich_, _England_.

Footnotes:

{1} A. Jessopp's Norwich (Diocesan histories), 1884, p. 155.

{2a} Leland's "Laboryouse Journey and Serche of Johan Leylande for
Englandes Antiquitees," enlarged by John Bale. 1549.

{2b} London apparently is entitled to claim the distinction of having
established the earliest British library under municipal control. In an
article in the "Library Association Record," vol. 10, 1908, the late Mr.
E. M. Borrajo, formerly Librarian to the Corporation of the City of
London, wrote: "The citizens of London may fairly claim to be the parent,
in a sense, not only of the National Library, but of every public library
in the country." He also stated: "The earliest association of a library
with the Guildhall dates from some period anterior to the year 1425, when
it is recorded that the executors of Richard Whittington and William Bury
built the 'new house or library, with the chamber under,' the custody of
which was entrusted to them by the Corporation." About the year 1549 the
Lord Protector Somerset carried off three cart loads of books from the
Library, and the following year saw its final disappearance. This
library was a collegiate library and probably opened its doors to
non-collegiate students, who were properly accredited. In the will of
John Carpenter, proved in 1442, this library is referred to as the
"common library at Guildhall."

{3} "The Maire of Bristowe is Kalendar by Robert Ricart Towm Clerk of
Bristol, 18 Edward IV." (Camden Society), 1872, p. v.

{4a} J. Kirkpatrick's "History of the Religious Orders . . . of Norwich
. . . written about the year 1725." 1845, p. 80.

{4b} _ib._

{5a} "Records of the City of Norwich," vol. 2, 1910, p. clxv.

{5b} F. Blomefield's "Norfolk," vol. 4, 1806, p. 262.

{8} Depositions . . . Extracts from the Court Books of the City of
Norwich, 1666-1688, ed. by Walter Rye, 1905, p. 130.

{11} "A New Catalogue of the Books in the Publick Library of the City of
Norwich, in the year 1732,"