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Report of the Library Syndicate on the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the Syndicate

1. The 250th anniversary of the establishment of the Library Syndicate falls on 11 June 1998. In order to mark the occasion the Syndicate reproduce below the establishing Graces of 1748 and 1751, in the belief that they will be of interest:

11 June 1748, paragraph 9
That the vice-chancellor heads of colleges all doctors in every faculty the orator and all publick professors together with the proctors taxors and scrutators be syndics for the publick library and that the major part of these or of so many of them as shall be met on due notice to them all provided such major part be not less than five of whom the vice-chancellor to be always one shall have power to order such things as shall be necessary for the better regulating and securing the same.
[This order] shall continue in force for three years.

11 June 1751
Placeat vobis ut ordinationes ad bibliothecam publicam spectantes vestra auctoritate non ita pridem [sc. 11 junii 1748] in triennium stabilitate eadem jam fiant perpetuæ.

2. In 1748 the staff of the Library consisted of two librarians; today there is a staff of 327. Then there were approximately 45,000 books and manuscripts; today there are over six million bound volumes, and the total stock occupies about a hundred miles of shelving. In 1748 only the seven hundred members of the Senate were allowed to use the Library, many of whom were non-resident; today there are 35,000 registered readers. The composition of the Syndicate was reduced to the Vice-Chancellor and sixteen members of the Senate in 1853, and has remained much the same ever since.

28 April 1998

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