as the Act required the assents to be two-thirds of the total votes given.  In 1855 the Commissioner of patents presented to the town some 200 volumes, conditionally that they should be kept in a Free Library, and about the same time another proposal was made to establish such a Library, but to no effect.  The Act was altered so that a penny rate could be made, and in October, 1859, it was again suggested to try the burgesses.  On February 21, 1860, the meeting was held and the adoption of the Act carried by a large majority.  A committee of sixteen, eight members of the Council, and eight out if it, was chosen, and in a short time their work was shown by the transfer of 10,000 square feet of land belonging to the Midland Institute, on which to erect a central library, the preparations of plans therefor, the purchase of books, and (April 3, 1861) the opening of the first branch library and reading room in Constitution Hill.  Mr. E.M.  Barry, the architect of the Midland Institute, put in designs, including Art Gallery, but his figures were too high, being L14,250 10s., the Town Council having only voted L10,500.  The plans of Mr. W. Martin, whose estimate was L12,000 were adopted, the Council added L1,500, a loan for the cash was negotiated, and building commenced by Messrs. Branson and Murray, whose tender to do the work for L8,600 was accepted.  Thirty-two applications for the chief librarianship at L200 per annum were sent in, the chosen man being Mr. J.D.  Mullins, though he was not the one recommended by the Committee.  The Central Lending Library (with 10,000 volumes) and Reading-room, with Art Gallery, was formally opened September 6, 1865, and the Reference Library (then containing 18,200 volumes) October 26, 1866.  In 1869, the latter was much enlarged by the purchase of 604 square yards of land in Edmund Street, and the total cost of the building came to L14,896.  The Branch Library at Adderley Park was opened January 11, 1864; that at Deritend Oct. 2, 1866, and at Gosta Green Feb. 1, 1868.  At the end of 1870, the total number of volumes in the whole of the Libraries was 56,764, of which 26,590 were in the Reference, and 12,595 in the Central Lending Library.  By 1877, the total number of volumes had reached 86,087, of which 46,520 were in the Reference, and 17,543 in the Central Lending, the total number of borrowers being 8,947 at the Central, 4,188 at Constitution Hill, 3,002 at Deritend, 2,668 at Gosta Green, and 271 at Adderley Park.  Meantime several new features in connection with the Reference Library had appeared.  A room had been fitted up and dedicated to the reception of the “Shakespeare Memorial Library,” presented April 23, 1864; the “Cervantes Library,” presented by Mr. Bragge, was opened on a similar date in 1873; the “Staunton Collection” purchased for L2,400, (not half its value) was added Sept. 1, 1875, and very many important additions had been made to the Art Gallery and incipient Museum.  For a long time, the Free Libraries’ Committee had