Abingdon Library was celebrating National Library Day with some special events today.

There was also a new display upstairs showing the library in days gone by. On the screen of the microfiche reader was the Abingdon Herald of Saturday 18th April 1896, the first edition since Abingdon Free Library was officially opened. An unnamed reporter described the scene …

“Fickle April was in its best mood, and the town wore a holiday aspect, when on Wednesday afternoon the Earl of Abingdon formally declared the Free Library and Reading-room open. The proceedings were timed to begin at 3 o’clock and long before that hour the Market-place and High-street were thronged with interested spectators awaiting the arrival of Lord Abingdon…. Several of the houses and the library itself were decorated with flags, and the chief display was made by Mr Bradley whose motto was “Success to the Abingdon Free Library.”

Lord Abingdon spoke from the balcony to the spectators below. He “ hailed with satisfaction the foresight and liberality of the Governors of Christ’s Hospital in placing at the disposition of the town such an institution.”

Parts of the Free Library are still recognisable. The ceiling of the back room of Smiths the Chemist now looks down on nappies and toiletries and not a library counter with the words “all junior books here.”

The library staff moved from the Free Library building to the Charter premises in 1976. One of the staff says “I remember the excitement of the staff exchanging cramped facilities, dark corridors, and Victorian plumbing for a huge new workplace with masses of new books, an expansive staff room and a LIFT!”