usual period was two years. The Minute Book
records the appointment of the following thirty-six Library Keepers who
held office during the years 1656 to 1731: John Collinges, 1656-57; John
Whitefoote, 1658-59;--Harmar, 1660-61; George Cock, 1662;--Smith, 1664;
Thomas Morley, 1667; Ben Snowden, 1669;--Norgate, 1671: [Benedict]
Rively, 1673; [Jo:] Watson, 1675; Dr. Jon Elsworth, 1677; [Thomas] Studd,
1679; [William] Cecil, 1681; John Whitefoote, the younger, (Mr. Painter
was chosen but declined to serve), 1682; [John] Jeffery, [Archdeacon of
Norwich] 1683; [Jo:] Shaw, 1685-86; John Pitts, 1687-89; [W.] Adamson,
(Burges was chosen but declined to serve), 1690-91; [John] Graile, 1692;
[John] Richardson, 1694-96; [Joseph] Ellis, 1696-97; [Isa:] Girling,
1698; [Tho:] Clayton, 1699; [John] Barker, 1700; [Edward] Riveley, 1702;
[Joseph] Brett, 1704; [John] Havett, 1706-07; [W.] Herne, 1708-09; [Sam:]
Jones, 1710-11; [Francis] Fayerman, 1712; [Sam: or John] Clark, 1713-14;
[John] Brand, 1715-16; [Sam.] Salter, 1719;--Morrant, (John Fox was
chosen but declined to serve), 1722-23; Benjamin Mackerell, 1724-31;
William Pagan, 1731. Benjamin Mackerell, who held the office from 1724
to 1731, is the best-known of the Library-Keepers. He wrote a History of
King's Lynn, which was published in the year of his death, 1738, and
several works relating to Norwich, which are still in manuscript; Mr.
Gordon Goodwin, the writer of his biography in the "Dictionary of
National Biography," says Mackerell was "an accurate, painstaking
antiquary, and left work of permanent value." Although he compiled the
second edition of the catalogue during his extended tenure of office, his
services were either not appreciated, or the members thought that the
rule regarding the period of office should not be indefinitely ignored,
for on December 6th, 1731, the following memorandum was made: "It was
then Order'd by the psons whose Names are above written that Peter Scott
wait upon Mr. Mackerell, Library Keeper, and desire him to meet them the
next Library day; they intending to proceed to the Election of a new one
The time for such Election being long since lapsed."

The office of Library Keeper was an honorary one, a condition that agrees
with the opinion expressed by John Dury in his "Reformed Librarie-Keeper"
published in 1650, but it is doubtful whether the Library Keepers
fulfilled all his other qualifications: "His work then is to bee a Factor
and Trader