gligence we shall fail in any of them, we Agree to
subject our selves to ye Penalties mentioned in ye orders Confirmed
by the Court of Common Councill in ye said City."

The Library at this time was clearly a Reference Library, and its
maintenance partly depended on the members who agreed to pay their
"proportions" of 12d. quarterly, and also their equal share in any
charges made for the "better preserving of the Library." The earlier
entries in the Minute Book give a fair record of the proceedings at the
meetings: they record the names of the members present, the names of new
members admitted to the use of the Library, the quarterly payments of the
members, the donations of books, books purchased with money given to the
Library, duplicate books exchanged for other books, the appointments of
the Library Keepers and Under Library Keepers, and other matters
connected with the administration of the Library; but the fulness of the
entries gradually diminishes until the records are little more than lists
of members present, and notes of quarterly payments.

The meetings were held monthly, and on February 6th, 1656, it was
resolved that the meetings should be held on the second Monday in each
month between 2 and 3 o'clock. At that meeting a levy on the members was
recorded: "All the mins present at this meeting deposed Sixpence a piece
in Mr. Collinges hand towards the providing of frames and parchment for
the orders for the regulation of the library, in all 5/-: and ordered
such as were not present if admitted already, or such as hereafter should
be admitted, should at their admission or next appearing at meeting lay
down so much towards the frames and parchment aforesaid, and the buying
of a book to register the Acts of the mins in."

That the members were permitted to enjoy the fragrant weed on the library
premises is evident from an entry under date October 12th, 1657:
"Threepence was laid out for tobacco pipes," and on April 1st, 1690 it
was recorded, "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 and paper, nine shillings."

From many records it is obvious that the City Authorities closely
controlled the administration of the Library. According to the Minute
Book on January 12th, 1673, the members "consented yt Mr Riveley and Mr
Morley should attend yppon the Court to craue their Order for