1834: Group of prospective settlers collected books to send to the colony.

1836: Foundation of the colony of free settlers.

1838-39: The Mechanics’ Institute established and almost immediately restructured.

1839-40: Lectures and classes were held, the library grew to 417 books, and subscriptions reached 100.

1840-41: Depression.

Mechanics’ Institute closed and lodged books with a pawnbroker.

1844-47: Wealthy citizens reclaimed the books and established a private subscription library.

Mechanics met to re-form the Mechanics’ Institute. Negotiations for the return of the books led to the two groups amalgamating as ‘ The South Australian Library and Mechanics’ Institute’.

1850: British Public Libraries Act.

1853: Charles Mann pointed to a need for a public library and suggested that the government provide a building for the Institute, and assist with salaries and new books. Books would be available to the public, but only subscribers would borrow them.

Realisation that a public library was beyond the scope of private individuals.

1856: Legislation set up the South Australian Institute.

1861: Building erected on North Terrace.

1857: Government grants-in-aid introduced to subsidise members’ subscriptions.

1859: Travelling boxes of books commenced, with a subsidy from the government. This service continued until the final closure of government assistance in the 1980s.

1860s– 1887: Government building and land grants available.

1861: Lecture scheme commenced. Government grants enabled the South Australian Institute to cover half the cost of  the speakers’ fee and travelling expenses. The scheme declined after 1873, but revived in 1910.

1884: Government legislation established the Public Library, the Museum and Art Gallery, and the Circulating Library. The Circulating Library was administered by the committee of the Public Library and continued to operate in the original Institute building.

1888: Legislation to allow Institutes to hand over buildings to Municipal Corporations, who could use them as Town Halls. The Institute continued to function and the subscribers were represented by the majority of the members of the management committee.

1898-1907: Series of Acts designed to relieve the financial problems of Institutes.

1898:  Legislation to allow Municipal Corporations to establish municipal libraries. The first library was not established until 1957.

References:

Bridge, Carl, ‘ South Australian Early Public Libraries’ South Australiana, 21,1: March, 1982.

Bridge, Carl, A trunk full of books: history of the State Library of South Australia and its forerunners, Wakefield Press in association with the State Library of South Australia, 1986.

Candy,P.C., Laurent, J., (eds), Pioneering Culture, Mechanics’ Institutes and Schools of Arts in Australia, Adelaide, Auslib Press, 1994.

Talbot, M.R., A chance to read: a history of the institute movement in South Australia, Libraries Board of South Australia, 1992.

Whitelock, Derek, The Great Tradition, A History of Adult Education in Australia, University of Queensland Press, 1974.

 

Acknowledgement: Dr. Michael Talbot, State Library of South Australia for information.