for helps to Learning, and a Treasurer to keep them, and a
dispenser to applie them to use, or to see them well used, or at least
not abused." {43} The duties of the Library Keeper appear to have
included general responsibility for the Library, the cataloguing of the
Library, and the recording of the donations in the Vellum Book provided
for the purpose. To relieve the Library Keeper of the routine part of
his charge, an Under Library Keeper was appointed from time to time. The
sixth condition to which members had to subscribe from 1656 included a
promise to "pay our proportions to ye under-Keeper of ye said Library
quarterly." This "proportion" was 12d. upon admission, and 12d.
quarterly, and was the Under-Library-Keeper's remuneration for services
rendered. This payment was still in force when the regulations were
revised in 1732, and were specifically provided for in the first
"Article." The Minute Book constantly records payments of arrears due to
the Under Library Keeper, showing that many of the Members were very
dilatory in their payments. Some of the Library Keepers were also
dilatory in their repayments to him of incidental expenses. On April
1st, 1690, a memorandum was made "That Mr. Pitts is this day discharged
from ye office of Library Keeper, and is endebted to ye
under=Library=Keeper for his 2 years for fire, candle, pipes, pens, ink,
& paper, nine shillings," and on Feb. 16th, 1699, it was recorded that
the Library Keeper, "Mr. Girling owe to the vnder libarey keeper for
three years and A half Fourten shillings 00ll-14s-00d."

Provision was made for relieving members from the obligation to assume
the office in their turn, upon payment of a fine. On March 6th, 1682/3
"Mr. Painter being chosen Library keeper for this yeare desired upon the
paymt of 20sh to the use of the library according to the order in that
case made to be excused and he was dismissed from his office, and Mr.
John Whitefoot the younger was chosen library keeper for the same yeare
in his stead."

The Library was under the care of William Sayer, the Librarian of the
"Public Library," from 1801 to 1805, when it was committed to the custody
of the Steward. The Library was again entrusted to the "Public Library"
in 1815, and came under the care of its librarian Richard Langton, until
1833, when he was succeeded by Edward Langton, who retained the office
until the Library was housed at the Free Library in 1862. Henceforth the
books