The first libraries in the early 1800s were designed for the common man (and they were only for men), and were usually mechanic's institutes or working men's libraries.

Unfortunately, the administrators of these institutes in their wisdom introduced a public subscription, which was followed very quickly by the departure of most of the working class members of the library.

The mechanic's institutes then became frequented by the middle class workers and professional men with slightly more disposable income.

The aim of these organisations was to educate and imporve, and a secretary of the Greenwich Society for the Acquisition an Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, warned against leading the institute members into unhealthy excitement by providing them with concerts, ventriloquism and Shakespearian readings.

In 1879, the New York Free Circulating Library came into existence, and was privately funded for some years, before municipal funds were allocated towards its progress.

Steel industry millionaire Andrew Carnegie was instrumental in funding the construction of many public libraries in England and America, with the proviso that they had to be maintained by their local municipalities.

This new form of tax-supported library was adopted by many cities, rather than waiting for a library to be endowed by a rich benefactor.

As a result, public libraries became an accepted part of municipal responsibility in America and England.

In Australia, the mechanic's institute libraries were the main form of public library in the mid nineteenth century - Victoria alone boasted of 257 such libraries, with over 300,000 books.

Sydney however, was the first colony to build municipal libraries in 1867, and the Free Public Library of Sydney was opened in 1869, with a lending branch for city residents opened in 1877.

Queensland's first public library, the Brisbane School of Arts, was opened in 1849, a decade before Queensland formally separated from New South Wales.

There was even a free library, started in 1894 by the Brisbane Trades Hall, although totally free public libraries did not exist in Brisbane until 1976, when the Brisbane City Council abolished the last of the library subscription charges.

Residents of Bundaberg have had access to a library since 1889. Situated in the School of Arts building, then President G. H. Bennett described it as a "splendidly fitted library and reading room, furnished with a good supply of Colonial, English and American Newspapers and Magazines; and a numerous and well-selected stock of books."

The subscription library was operated from the these premises until 1980, when a bequest left by Stanley Faulkner was used to buy and refit the old Customs House/Commonwealth Bank building on Quay Street.

The first free public library service in Bundaberg opened its doors on March 3, 1980, and 25 years later it is still flourishing.

Although we too would not like to lead our library patrons to unhealthy excitement, we do invite you to join in the celebrations at Bundaberg Library next Wednesday.

There will be a sausage sizzle from 3pm to 6pm. Come down for a late lunch, afternoon tea or early dinner and enjoy the fun as we celebrate 25 years of free public library service to Bundaberg.