Transcribed from the 1917 Norwich Public Library Committee edition by David Price, ccx074@pglaf.org
THREE CENTURIES OF A CITY LIBRARY
AN HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF THE NORWICH PUBLIC LIBRARY ESTABLISHED IN 1608 AND THE PRESENT PUBLIC LIBRARY OPENED IN 1857
by
GEO. A. STEPHEN
City Librarian, Norwich
Fellow of the Library Association
Silver Medallist of the Royal Society of Arts
Author of “Guide to the Study of Norwich,” “Commercial Bookbinding,” etc.
Joint-author of “Manual of Library Bookbinding”
NORWICH
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMITTEE
1917
“I can wonder at nothing more, than how a man can be idle; but, of all other, a Scholar; in so many improvements of reason, in such sweetness of knowledge, in such variety of studies, in such importunity of thoughts. . . . To find wit, in poetry; in philosophy, profoundness; in mathematics, acuteness; in history, wonder of events; in oratory, sweet eloquence; in divinity, supernatural light and holy devotion; as so many rich metals in their proper mines, whom would it not ravish with delight!”—Joseph Hall, Bishop of Norwich, 1641-7.