A modern photograph of the Library Reading Room.

A modern photograph of the Library Reading Room.

Detail map of Manchester, England, United Kingdom Overview map of Manchester, England, United Kingdom

A: Manchester, England, United Kingdom

Chetham's Library: the First Free Public Reference Library in the United Kingdom

1653
A portrait of Humphrey Chetham, now in the library reading room.

A portrait of Humphrey Chetham, now in the library reading room.

Chetham’s Library in Manchester, England, established in 1653 under the will of merchant Humphrey Chetham, for the education of "the sons of honest, industrious and painful parents", and as a library for the use of scholars. is the oldest free public reference library in the United Kingdom, and perhaps the first free public library in the English speaking world.

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