Free Library Moss Side

FREE LIBRARY MOSS SIDE LANCASHIRE - The public free Library and news-room which has been erected by the Free Libraries Committee of the Moss Side District Council was opened recently by the Marquis of Lorne MP. The building has been erected from designs by Mr Acton, the Surveyor to the District Council, the cost being about £3,000. It includes a large public room, which may be used for meetings, concerts etc; a library and news room and in the basement, classrooms in which some of the technical instruction classes held under the District Council may be carried on. [Builder 22 May 1897 page 465]

The handsome public free library and newsroom which has been erected by the Free Libraries Committee of the Moss side District Council was opened on Saturday afternoon by the Marquis of Lorne MP. ...  On the election of the first Urban District Council the question of a free library was introduced to the notice of the new local authority by Mt J Williams, a member of the council, and was received with general favour. The Council possessed a plot of land at the junction of Moss Lane East and Bradshaw Street, which they handed over to the Free Libraries Committee free of charge so that no encroachment on the library rate was made for the provision of a site. The building, which is in every way suitable for its purpose, while at the same time it adds a pleasant architectural feature to the district, has been erected from designs prepared by Mr Acton, the Surveyor to the District Council, the cost being about £3,000. It includes a large public room, which may be used for meetings, concerts etc; a library and news room, and in the basement, classrooms in which some of the technical instruction classes held under the District Council may be carried on. [Manchester Guardian Manchester Guardian 10 May 1897 page 12]

The library building was erected in 1896, from plans and designs by Mr. W. R. Acton, then Surveyor to the District Council. The cost of the building, £3,683, was defrayed by loan, the land for the site being presented by the Council. The building, containing reference, lending library and newsroom, a basement available for classrooms and small meetings, and an upper storey suitable for public meetings, lectures and concerts, was opened by the Duke of Argyll, on May 8th, 1897. [Handbook of Manchester Free Public Libraries  page 95]

Following the amalgamation of the Urban District of Moss Side with Manchester in 1904, the public library became the property of the Manchester Libraries Committee, and operated as the Moss Side branch.

Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 2 May 1896 Page 3 – contracts
Reference    Manchester Guardian Thursday 16 January 1896 Page 6 - Local Government Inquiry
Reference    W R Credland: Handbook of Manchester Free Public Libraries  page 95
Reference    Builder 22 May 1897 p465
Reference    Manchester Guardian 10 May 1897 page 12