Gloucester Public Library
{{Short description|Public library in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox library
| library_name = Gloucester Public Library
| image = Public Library at Gloucester.jpg
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| location = Gloucester, Gloucestershire
| established = 1897
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| website = {{URL|https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/libraries/find-a-library/gloucester-library-including-music-and-performing-arts/}}
| req_to_access = None
| branch_of = Gloucestershire Libraries
| type = public library
}}
Gloucester Public Library is a public library in Brunswick Road, Gloucester, England, founded in 1897 and is open 6 days a week.{{Cite web |title=Gloucester Library including Music and Performing Arts - Gloucestershire County Council |url=https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/libraries/library-locations-and-opening-hours/gloucester-library-including-music-and-performing-arts/ |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=www.gloucestershire.gov.uk}} It has been listed Grade II on the National Heritage List for England since 1973.{{NHLE|num=1245965|desc=Public Library|access-date=6 April 2020|mode=cs2}}
History
Originally called the Schools of Science and Art, the original part of the building was built by FullJames Waller & Son in 1872 for the Gloucester Science and Art Society which was mainly funded by subscribers.{{Cite web |date=2014-03-29 |title=1899 – Public Library & Technical Schools, Gloucester, Gloucestershire |url=https://www.archiseek.com/2014/1899-public-library-technical-schools-gloucester-gloucestershire/ |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=Archiseek - Irish Architecture |language=en-US}}{{Cite book |last=Jordan |first=Christine |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/944210864 |title=Gloucester in 50 buildings |date=2016 |isbn=978-1-4456-5231-3 |location=Stroud |oclc=944210864}} It also housed a museum of Literature and Science. There were several failed attempts to run a free public library at the Working Men's Institute and a survey from 1887 shows that taxpayers voted against having a free public library. In 1893, the building was extended with a hall built for the Gloucester Science and Art Society called the "Price Memorial Hall".{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}} The city corporation brought the book collection of the Gloucester Literary and Scientific Association in 1895 and took over the buildings and running of the school and museum in 1896. In 1897, a free library service was started. The building was extended to the south in 1900 to house the new library, which was built to mark Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and designed by F.W Waller.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}
The building finally opened as a public library in 1900.{{Cite book |last=Sillence |first=Rebecca |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1062257135 |title=Gloucester : history tour |date=2015 |isbn=978-1-4456-4858-3 |location=Stroud |pages=28 |oclc=1062257135}} The library opened with Roland Austin's Gloucestershire Collection of local history which has since moved to the Gloucestershire Archives in 2005.{{Cite news |date=27 October 2005 |title=Archives under one roof |work=Worcestershire, West Midlands, Herefordshire, and Shorpshire Counties Publications |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=UKNB&req_dat=4EAB8751BB8C40518A44137F01A68E7C&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F10D82FF62A477898 |url-access=subscription |access-date=6 November 2022}}
In 1902, the Price Memorial Hall was converted to be used as part of the museum which became The Museum of Gloucester.{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/glos/vol4/pp209-221|title=Gloucester, 1835-1985: Social and cultural life|work=British History|accessdate=3 June 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/glos/vol4/pp221-241|title=Gloucester, 1835-1985: Topography|work=British History|accessdate=3 June 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gloucester.gov.uk/resident/Documents/Planning%20and%20Building%20Control/HistoricEnvironment/CityCentreCASep07.pdf|title=City Centre Conservation Area|work=Gloucester City Council|date=September 2007|accessdate=3 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305191840/http://www.gloucester.gov.uk/resident/Documents/Planning%20and%20Building%20Control/HistoricEnvironment/CityCentreCASep07.pdf|archive-date=5 March 2017|url-status=dead}}
In 1990 a rare piece of choral music by Sir Edward Elgar was found in a plain envelope in the library's collections, 83 years after it disappeared.{{Cite news |date=21 August 1990 |title=Elgin score find |work=The Times |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=UKNB&req_dat=4EAB8751BB8C40518A44137F01A68E7C&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F925B15A52829F6 |url-access=subscription |access-date=6 November 2022}}
Architecture
The library building is designed in the Neo-Gothic style. It was inspired by the work of George Edmund Street. It consists of five bays parallel to the street with cross-gabled right angle ranges at each end. The two bays and right angle range at the north end of the building are the original part built in 1872 and southern end is the newer part built in 1900. It has two storeys and a cellar.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}} There are two entrances on each of the end bays. All the bays have large ground and first floor windows apart from where the entrances are located.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}} The newer southern entrance has the year 1900 engraved above it, and the southern range has the words "public library" engraved between the ground and first floor windows. Inside the main reading room is braced out to support a glazed atrium roof.
The adjoining Price Memorial Hall is built in the renaissance style.
Collection
As well as a book collection, the library includes a dedicated Music and Performing Arts collection which has a large collection of vocal scores and orchestral sets.
References
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{{Buildings and structures in Gloucester}}
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Category:Grade II listed buildings in Gloucestershire
Category:Buildings and structures in Gloucester