New book charts the story of libraries in Leeds

A new book has been published charting the development of libraries in Leeds.
Leeds Seminary Library.Leeds Seminary Library.
Leeds Seminary Library.

Libraries in Leeds: A Historical Survey tells the story of libraries in Leeds from the Middle Ages through to the 1930s.

The book has been written by Peter Morrish, for many years the keeper of special collections at Leeds University's Brotherton Library.

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It charts the remarkable 800-year survey from the library of Kirkstall Abbey to the development of private, commercial, specialist, academic and public libraries in the city up to the Second World War.

It is the first comprehensive study of the development of libraries focused on a single town in the UK.

Beyond the Middle Ages, the book looks at the 17th and 18th century libraries of the gentry, merchants, antiquaries and parsons including the libraries of Temple Newsam House and Ralph Thoresby’s museum in Kirkgate.

It then traces the development of circulating, subscription and learned society libraries such as The Leeds Library in Commercial Street, Leeds Grammar School library, and that of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society.

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Moving forward in time, it looks at institutional and public libraries in the 19th century, and then the development of libraries connected with the faith communities, such as those of Leeds Church Institute, Leeds Jewish Institute, the Wesleyan College in Headingley, and St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Seminary.

The book concludes by describing the creation and evolution of Leeds University’s Brotherton Library and, in contrast, the domestic libraries of the well-to-do middle classes of Victorian and Edwardian Leeds.

It has been published by the Thoresby Society and is priced at £16.99.

Eve Bradford, Thoresby Society president, said: "We are proud to publish Peter Morrish’s book. It is a treasure trove of new information about libraries in Leeds and much besides and will be much enjoyed by people interested in books and libraries."

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The book is being launched on Wednesday, January 15, (1pm) at the historic Leeds Library in Commercial Street. There will be a brief talk on the book and a display of items from the library of the antiquarian Ralph Thoresby (1658-1725), now in the archives of the Thoresby Society.

People wishing to attend the launch can book a place by clicking HERE

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