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Were there libraries in shops in the 1950s?

posted 16 years ago by paulj-murphy
5 replies | jump to latest

In this shop there appear to be libraries in shops - there is one scene where a bookshop has a sign in the window saying "lending library", the same for a newsagents and a stationers. The newsagents seems to charge 2d per week for a book.

Can anyone remember if this was common practice in the 1950s for shops to have little lending libraries in them? Were the libraries private, or run by local government, etc?

Can anyone give me any information on this?

Thanks,

Paul Murphy.

[–] pullgees 16 years ago

Yes many independent shops had libraries which were funded by the proprietor not the government. It was another source of income for them. The public libraries were around then as well.

[–] JETTCO48 16 years ago

Yes Paul, there were libraries in shops back then.
Boots the Chemist being the most famous one.
Most larger branches had a lending library included, but they were phased out in the early '60's.

[–] paulj-murphy 16 years ago

Many thanks for that...if anyone can add anything, please continue to do so.

Thanks, Jettco48

[–] Spiny_Norman 16 years ago

I have a Harrods catalogue from 1929 which boasts of their 'Extensive lending library'.

"Everbody in the WORLD, is bent"

[–] 16 years ago

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