'Glasgow’s public library system has 33 community libraries'

When the Public Libraries Act of 1863 came into force, various groups campaigned to convince Glasgow to adopt it.

However, nearly forty years disappeared before the Glasgow Corporation (Tramways, Libraries, etc.) Act was passed in 1899, creating the city’s own free lending library service.

This Act also financed a purpose-built library to house the collections purchased with Stephen Mitchell’s 1874 bequest: The Mitchell Library at Charing Cross, which is also home to Glasgow City Archives.

Of course, there were free public libraries in Glasgow before 1901.

Stirling’s Library and Campbell Library both began their life as independent free public libraries.

Walter Stirling (merchant and town councillor) bequeathed the funds, premises and stock to set up a free reference library in 1791.

In 1844, Campbell Library (later to become Pollokshaws Library) was a subscription library.

However, the Glasgow Corporation network libraries were the first to be supported by local rates, and both libraries joined this network in 1912.

Between 1901 and 1907, a new network of branch libraries was established.

Anderston Library (Image: Glasgow City archives)

Library interior (Image: Glasgow City........

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