Page 1018 - Reading Mercury

building was being shored up with timber baulks.
The site is to be used for shops and offices

Thur 24th Dec
HISTORY OF WOKINGHAM LIBRARY
In 1924, Mr. Staniland, founder of the Berkshire Gazette in 1903, persuaded the
County Council to open a branch of the county library in one room. The first
volunteer librarian was Miss M. Haswood who remained in the post until 1949. She
was helped, latterly, by Mr. T. S. C. Hawkins, who took over as librarian-in-charge,
upon her death. There was a slight delay in opening the library because the then
County Librarian had broken his arm but eventually 250 books in five boxes were
despatched by carrier to Wokingham. In 1925 a regular exchange of books
commenced. By 1928 there were 934 registered readers and 566 books were being
exchanged for the county library at a time.
A search continued for larger premises but many of the sites that were earmarked
were sold or let to other bodies. In 1951 rooms became vacant at Montague House
st
and on May 1 the library vacated the town hall and moved to Montague House
occupying what had formerly been the scullery, dining room and study. The library
was open for ten hours per week and the first paid librarian was Miss C. Sale. After a
year in the new premises 92,131 books were issued and there were 4, 544 registered
readers. Today the branch issues 313,000 books and has 14,400 registered readers. It
is open in the extended premises 51 hours per week.
Situated at the rear of the library in Montague House the new extension completes
the complex of county council educational and recreational buildings in Broad Street.
Inclusive of the of the existing library premises the scheme has cost £13,500.
Access to the building continues to be through Montague House, and there are new
doors and panelling in the entrance. The layout of the original premises has been
altered, and one of the small rooms has been turned into a workroom and office. The
remainder of the original library now houses the children’s section. All other books
have been moved into the extension.
Apart from the increased shelf space the public have room to move around. A quiet
area for reading has been provided, as well as a new staff cloakroom.
Tribute to the work done under very hard conditions by branch librarian Miss C. M.
Steer and her staff was paid by Dr. R. Child, chairman of the library committee and
Wokingham Library advisory committee, who presided. He said the service which she
and her staff had given was beyond all praise.
Dr. Child recalled that when he first joined the county council the annual report of
the library committee included a report which said the premises at Wokingham were
too small. For many years the proposed extension was cut out of the estimates, but
now at last they had got it, and it was a very great pleasure to him, as chairman of the
library committee, and of the Wokingham library advisory committee.

st
Thur 31 Dec
DEATH OF MR. BUZZACOTT
Mr. James Buzzacott who, over the years, quietly contributed to a number of local
charities, died this week aged 95. Mr. Buzzacott came to Wokingham soon after the
war and bought Frog Hall, the adjoining cottage and the surrounding land off the
London Road.

1016