Public Libraries Act 1855

The Public Libraries Act 1855 (18 & 19 Vict. c. 70) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that repealed the Public Libraries Act 1850 (13 & 14 Vict. c. 65) for England and Wales.

Long titleAn Act for further promoting the Establishment of Free Public Libraries in Municipal Towns, and for extending it to Towns governed under Local Improvement Acts, and to Parishes.

Citation18 & 19 Vict. c. 70

Territorial extentEngland and Wales^[b]

Royal assent30 July 1855

Quick facts Long title, Citation ...

Public Libraries Act 1855^[a]

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act for further promoting the Establishment of Free Public Libraries in Municipal Towns, and for extending it to Towns governed under Local Improvement Acts, and to Parishes.
Citation	18 & 19 Vict. c. 70
Territorial extent	England and Wales[b]
Dates
Royal assent	30 July 1855
Commencement	30 July 1855[c]
Repealed	1 October 1892
Other legislation
Repeals/revokes	Public Libraries Act 1850
Amended by	Public Libraries Amendment Act (England and Scotland) 1866 Public Libraries Act 1855 Amendment Act 1871 Public Libraries Act 1884 Public Libraries Acts Amendment Act 1887 Public Libraries Acts Amendment Act 1889 Public Libraries Acts Amendment Act 1890
Repealed by	Public Libraries Act 1892
Relates to	Towns Improvement Clauses Act 1847
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

Close

The provisions were:^[1]

• to extend the right to adopt public library legislation beyond municipal boroughs to parish vestries
• to reduce the population requirement from 10,000 to 5,000
• to allow parishes to group together to meet the population requirement
• to explicitly include the Metropolis
• to allow adoption if a two thirds majority were in favour at a public meeting