Reading in Rushden

On the 6 August 1926 the Rushden Echo carried the following notice :- Bargains in Books – We recommend our readers to inspect the wonderful selection of fourpenny novels, books of adventure, etc., which Mr. Charles Robinson, newsagent, High-street, has just secured. There are many thousands to select from, and they will be cleared at the exceptionally low price of 2d. each.

If the people of Rushden didn’t want to buy books there several libraries in the town. The Carnegie Library in Newton Road opened in 1905 but before that there was a Club and Reading Room which opened about 1875. At the second annual meeting in November 1878, which was held in the Vestry Hall, it was reported that the income, from all sources, amounted to £58 16s. 4d., and the expenditure had been £58 15s. 2d., leaving them with a balance of 1s. 2d. This was considered very satisfactory. At the annual meeting in November 1883, the balance in hand was £8 and it was decided to spend £6 of that on books. It was also decided that ladies were eligible to become members.

William Mark, who was a printer trading at 74 High Street, Rushden had a library, and in 1901 non-subscribers could borrow books for 2d (reduced to 1d) per week or part of a week. The shop eventually became Croft and Nichols.

There was also the Golden Century Circulating Library run by Elizabeth Hewitt, at 35 High Street. By the 1940s this was Skinner’s Library and the charge for reading their books was 2d for seven days.

Jessie Florence Robinson, newsagent at 132 High Street, ran a library in the 1940s. Any book kept for more than seven days would be charged at 2d per week. The book from this library is over-stamped with the Rushden Working Men’s Club and Institute and dates pencilled inside the book are 1946 and 1947.

The smaller libraries no longer exist, but we still have the Carnegie Library in Newton Road which, fortunately for us, is a friendly and busy place – a great asset to the town and well used.