In the light of Victorian legislation allowing local authorities to raise funds for their building, the end of the 19th and start of the 20th centuries saw the advent of free libraries in most British towns and cities. First published in 1907, Public Libraries offers best practice and advice regarding the construction, layout and usage of such buildings, including questions of capacity, facilities, ventilation, lighting, materials and issuing systems. Filled with fascinating examples of both the building practices and the social attitudes of the time, Public Libraries offers insight into the architectural and social history behind this most esteemed of civic amenities.