Books and readers in certain eighteenth-century parish libraries
An introductory chapter outlines the provenance, circumstance and background relating to the provision of individual books and libraries within English parish churches since the Reformation. Such sources as private benefactions, endowments and royal and episcopal directives are cited as instrumental in creating the patchwork provision of books that was the inheritance of the eighteenth century, and to which was added the extensive work of Dr Thomas Bray, his Associates, and the various religious societies. A second chapter places within this historical context the specific development of five libraries situated at Wisbech, Doncaster, Witham, Rotherham and Maidstone; each of which, out of different circumstances, was operating a lending library under parochial administration for some period of the eighteenth century. A detailed analysis of borrowers and books at the five libraries follows in chapter 3 and is derived from the extant book-issue records associated with each library. Such aspects as anticipated and apparent demand; patterns and scope of use; borrower status; and the nature of the books loaned are investigated. A further chapter augments the evidence from these five libraries with other parallel
Best, Graham
History
Books and readers in certain eighteenth-century parish libraries. An introductory chapter outlines the provenance, circumstance and background relating to the provision of individual books and libraries within English parish churches since the Reformation. Such sources as private benefactions, endowments and royal and episcopal directives are cited as instrumental in creating the patchwork provision of books that was the inheritance of the eighteenth century, and to which was added the extensive work of Dr Thomas Bray, his Associates, and the various religious societies. A second chapter places within this historical context the specific development of five libraries situated at Wisbech, Doncaster, Witham, Rotherham and Maidstone; each of which, out of different circumstances, was operating a lending library under parochial administration for some period of the eighteenth century. A detailed analysis of borrowers and books at the five libraries follows in chapter 3 and is derived from the extant book-issue records associated with each library. Such aspects as anticipated and apparent demand; patterns and scope of use; borrower status; and the nature of the books loaned are investigated. A further chapter augments the evidence from these five libraries with other parallel
books reader certain eighteenth_century parish library introductory outline provenance circumstance background relate provision individual book library within english_parish church since reformation source private benefaction endowment royal episcopal directive cite instrumental create patchwork provision book inheritance add extensive work thomas various religious society second place_within historical_context specific development library situate different circumstance operate library parochial administration period detail_analysis book library follow derived extant book issue record associate library aspect anticipate apparent demand pattern scope use status nature book loan investigate evidence library parallel