This volume provides an examination of the kind of free (or nearly free) libraries which were available to the general public in Scotland and Wales in the late nineteenth century, but which were not supported by local taxation.

This volume provides an examination of the kind of free (or nearly free) libraries which were available to the general public in Scotland and Wales in the late nineteenth century, but which were not supported by local taxation. They were effectually substitutes for municipal public libraries in areas where that sort of library provision did not exist. They may have been funded by wealthy philanthropists or by well-wishers. Attention is paid too to libraries which were aimed at specific communities, such as workers in factories, mills, mines, railway works, and shops, as well as book provision for policemen, soldiers and sailors, hospital patients, nurses, workhouses, prisoners, and domestic servants (and hotel guests). The voluntary public libraries of England and Wales are dealt with in Volume 1.

Keith A. Manley's previously published books include Books, Borrowers, and Shareholders: Scottish Circulating and Subscription Libraries before 1825 (2012) and Irish Reading Societies and Circulating Libraries founded before 1825 (2018). He also co-edited The Cambridge History of Libraries in Britain, Vol. 2: 1640-1850 (2006). Keith is a Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Historical Research, University of London, and of CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals), as well as Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.