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LIBRARIES. The reading portion of the public who, if blessed with libraries, are upon a temporary visit to the metropolis, necessarily constrained to forego their enjoyment, may with the more numerous, but less fortunate class be fully gratified by a resort to either of the subjoined, amply supplied book establishments, where works by the month, week, or day, may be obtained at a very moderate charge these libraries being based upon a system that, while it advances the interests of the proprietors, mainly contributes to the comfort and convenience of all temporary sojourners in London. They are as follows: - Andrews's, Bond Street;  Booth, Duke Street, Portland Place; Bull, Holles Street, Cavendish Square; Cawthorn, Cockspur Street; Lowe, Lamb's Conduit Street; Cook and Ollivier, Pall Mall; Cotes, Cheapside; Churton, Holles Street, Cavendish Square; Cresswell, Crawford Street; Ebers, Bond Street; Hookham, Bond Street; Hodgson, Great Marylebone Street; Hebert, Cheapside; Loyd, Harley Street; Mitchell, Bond Street ; McClary, St. James's Street; Paine, High Street, Marylebone; Sams, St. James's Street; Seguin, Regent Street; Saunders and Ottley, Conduit Street; Spencer, Holborn; Swails, Great Russell Street; Wright, Crawford Street.

Mogg's New Picture of London and Visitor's Guide to it Sights, 1844

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Libraries (Circulating). —The two principal circulating libraries for ordinary light literature, are W. H. SMITH and SON’S, Strand, with depots for exchange of Books at all their Railway Bookstalls, and MUDIE’S, Oxford-street. Terms for W. H. Smith and Son’s :— 1. Subscribers can only change their books at the depot where their names are registered. A Subscriber may exchange once a day; the Clerk in charge will obtain from London any work in the Library which a Subscriber may desire to have. Novels exchanged only in unbroken and complete Sets. London Subscribers transferring their Subscriptions to a country depot, will be entitled only to the number of volumes which the country terms assign to the amount they subscribe; similarly, Country Subscriptions transferred to Town become subject to the London regulations. Terms —
I. For Subscribers obtaining their Books from a London Terminus, or 186, Strand: 

II. From a Country Bookstall

MUDIE’S LIBRARY, 509, 510, and 511. New Oxford-street. Terms of Subscription for Subscribers obtaining their books from the Town Offices—Class A (All Books in the Library)

2 Vols. for each additional Guinea per annum

Class B (Books of Past Seasons)

City Office, 2, King-st, Cheapside. A supply of Books, consisting chiefly of Popular Works available for the immediate use of Subscribers, always kept in reserve and replenished from day to day. When the Books desired are not in stock, they are obtained from the Head Office with as little delay as possible.

2 Vols. for each additional Guinea per Annum.

Only one exchange a day allowed on Subscription. The leading Reviews may be obtained as volumes, but only one current Periodical allowed at a time.
The London Book Society for the weekly delivery of Books in London and the Suburbs:

2 Vols. for each additional Guinea

For more substantial works, the LONDON LIBRARY, St. James’s square. Subscription, payable annually in advance, £2. Entrance £6, or £3 annually without Entrance Fee. Members may commute their Annual Subscriptions by payment of £20, or £26. Persons who wish to become Subscribers must send their names to the Librarian, to be submitted to the Committee. Members residing within 10 miles of the General Post Office, London, shall he entitled to take out ten volumes; and Members residing at a greater distance, fifteen at a time ; to be exchanged as often as required. Members desirous of taking out more may, upon payment of an increased subscription, claim an additional number of volumes of old works, or one extra copy of any new work in the Library for every additional pound per annum. The time allowed for the perusal of New Books (ie. books published within the last two years) is fourteen days, to be reckoned from the day of issue, without reference to any summons for the return of the Book.
LONDON INSTITUTION, Finsbury-circus, E.C.—The board of management of this institution are now issuing 300 annual subscribers’ tickets at the present price of £2 12s. 6d. each, giving personal admission for one year from the day of purchase to all lectures, or £2 2s. without lectures, to the use of the circulating library and to read in the reference library and reading-rooms. Lectures are given twice a week (on Mondays at 5 p.m., and Thursdays at 7 p.m.) during four months of the year by men of distinction on science, art, and literature. The circulating library (open 10 a.m. till 9 p.m.— Saturday, 3 p.m.) consists of nearly 4,000 volumes, in all departments, supplemented by an annual subscription of £200 to Messrs. W. H. Smith and Son’s for general literature, and special subscriptions to Messrs. Lewis and Son for scientific books, Mr. Rolandi for foreign books, and Messrs. Augener for musical publications. Each proprietor or annual subscriber may borrow five volumes (one of which must be a magazine or volume of magazines), which he may exchange as frequently as he likes. The reference library (open 10 am. till 9 p.m.—Saturday, 3 p.m.) contains about 60,000 volumes, arranged according to subjects. The best new books are added every month, and Parliamentary papers are taken in and may be consulted without difficulty. Intending annual subscribers are provisionally admitted at once to all privileges on deposit of £2 12s. 6d., are nominated at the next monthly meeting of the board, and balloted for at the second monthly meeting. All letters should be addressed “Principal Librarian, London Institution, Finsbury. circus, E.C.” Personal application may be made in the library between 10 am, and 9 pm. (Saturdays, 3 p.m.).
There are also several smaller libraries, which themselves subscribe to one or other of the large establishments, re-lending the books to their own subscribers.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of London, 1879

LIBRARIES (CIRCULATING).

The principal circulating libraries for general literature, especially the more recently published works, are -W. H. SMITH AND SONS'S, 186, Strand; chief London exchange office Kingsway, W.C.; MUDIE'S, 30 to 34 New Oxford-st. Terms for W. H. Smith and Son's, payable in advance at any of the branches or the head office:-
    FOR EXCHANGING AT A LONDON BRANCH OR HEAD OFFICE.
    Class A.-The newest and all books in circulation

    For these terms, also, books can be exchanged by post, rail, or any other available means desired from the Head Office to any part of the United Kingdom. A deposit, for cost of postage forward, is required for this. The expense of carriage and postage to and from is home by the subscriber.
    FOR DELIVERY AND COLLECTION (WEEKLY) TO AND FROM SUBSCRIBERS' RESIDENCES IN LONDON - Class A.-The newest and all books in circulation. 

    PROVINCIAL BRANCHES - FOR EXCHANGING AT ANY OF THE SUBURBAN AND COUNTRY DEPOTS - Class A-The newest and ill books in circulation.

    SPECIAL TRAVELLING SUBSCRIPTIONS - Entitling subscribers to exchange at any depot without previous notice.

The following are the addresses of bookstalls and bookshops London at which subscriptions can be paid and books obtained:-
     Brompton-rd Railway Station 
    Brondesbury, 352, High-rd. 
    Camden Town, Tube Station. 
    Cannon-st Railway Station.
    Chalk Farm, 168, Regents-pk rd, N.W.
    Charing +, Railway Station.
    Dover-st, Piccadilly.
    Down-st Tube Station.
    Earl's Court Railway Station
    Earl's Court, 166, Earls-ct-rd
    Fenchurch-st Railway Station
    Finsbury-pk Railway Station
    Finsbury-pk City Electric Railway Station.
    Golder's Green Tube Station
    Hampstead, 483, Finchley-rd
    Hampstead, 12, Swiss-ter, N W
    Hampstead Heath, 34, Rosslyn- hill.
    17, Hanover-st, W.
    Holborn Viaduct Railway Station
    Hyde-pk-corner Tube Station.
    King's Cross Railway Station.
    Kensington, Addison-rd, 4, Russsel-gdns.
    Kilburn, 103, High-rd.
    Kingsway, W.C.
    Liverpool-st Railway Station.
    London-br, L.B & S.C. Ry Statn.
    London-br, S.E. Railway Station.
    London-br, S. London Ry. Stat.
    Ludgate-hill Railway Station.
    Mansion House Railway Station.
    Marylebone Railway Station.
    Moorgate-st G.N. & C.R. Station.
    Mornington-cres. Tube Station.
    Monument Railway Station.
    Paddington, 19, Craven-rd, W.
    Salisbury House, London Wall, E.C.
    South Kensington Tube Station.
    St. Pancras Railway Station.
    St. Paul's Railway Station.
    Sloane-sq, No. 36.
    Tufnell-pk Railway Station.
    Uxbridge-rd, 161, Holland-rd, W.
    Victoria B. & S.C. Railway Statn.
    Victoria S.E. & C. Railway Statn.
    Waterloo-rd Railway Station.
    Waterloo-rd Loop Line Railway Station.
    Waterloo-rd South Railway Stat.
    West Kensington Railway Station.
    Willesden Green, 76, Walm-la.
    With 800 branches throughout England and Wales.

MUDIE'S SELECT LIBRARY, 30 to 34, Oxford-st, is probably the oldest institution of its kind in the world, being started in 1842 by Mr. C. K. Mudie. It claims to be to-day the largest, best equipped and most widely-known lending library in existence, and notes that it has in addition to current publications an unrivalled collection of standard works, accumulated over sixty years. Classified catalogues are issued at the beginning of each year, one of English and the other of foreign books, 1s. 6d. each, or 2s. 6d. the two. Supplementary lists are issued monthly, free to subscribers. It is probable that the advantage of getting the latest modern books of fiction is a great branch of all libraries' business, and certainly of Messrs. Mudies. The yellow label has been known now for generations. Terms for subscribers obtaining their books from the chief offices, i.e. 30 to 34, Oxford-st; 48, Queen Victoria-st, E.C., 241, Brompton-rd, exchanging as often as they like:

    Books are delivered once a week in the suburbs at an additional fee to the above, and arrangements are made by which provincial subscribers may have them forwarded by rail as often as required.
    For more substantial works the LONDON LIBRARY, 14, St. James's-sq, SW. Annual subscription, £3. Those who wish to become subscribers must send their names to the librarian, to be submitted to the committee. Members residing within 10 miles of the General Post Office, London, are entitled to take out ten volumes; and members residing at a greater distance, fifteen at a time; to be exchanged as often as required. Members desirous of taking out more may upon payment of an increased subscription, claim an additional number of volumes of old works, or one extra copy of any new work in the library for every additional pound per annum. The time allowed for the perusal of new books (i.e. books published within the last two years) is fourteen days, to be reckoned from the day of issue, without reference to any summons for the return of the book. Older books are allowed to be kept two months.
    LONDON INSTITUTION, Finsbury-cir E.C.-The London Institution "for the advancement of literature and the diffusion of useful knowledge" is an association of 950 proprietors, incorporated by royal charter, and extending their advantages to subscribers. No pecuniary profit accrues to the proprietors or any other persons concerned in its management. Subscribers pay £3 3s., £2 12s. 6d. or £2 2s. a year, according as they do or do not wish to attend the lectures. The circulating library consists of nearly 70,000 volumes, and is -supplemented by large subscriptions to trade circulating libraries, general, foreign, scientific, and musical. There are excellent reading-rooms for books, periodicals, and newspapers. The lectures are given twice a week (on Mon. at 5 p.m. and Thur. at 6 p.m.) during four winter months, by men of distinction in science, art, and literature. All letters should be addressed Secretary, London institution, Finsbury-cir, E.C. Personal application may be made in the library between 10 am. and 7 p.m. (Sat. 3 p.m.).
    LEWIS'S MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC LIBRARY, 136, Gower-st, W.C., established 1852, Contains about 10,000 volumes of works in medical literature, general science, etc., and new books and new editions are added as soon as published. Books may be kept as long or changed as often as desired. Library hours, 9 am. to 6 p.m.; Sat., 2 p.m.
    TERMS. For subscribers in town and country (the year Commencing at any date):

Prospectus of the library post free. Catalogue of the library, 2s. to subscribers; non-subscribers, 5s.
    MITCHELL'S ROYAL LIBRARY, Ltd., 33, Old Bond-st. Subs. from 15s. per quarter.
    ROLAND'S FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTION LIBRARY, 20, Berners-st.- Exclusively for the circulation of foreign works.
    TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. 
    Commencing at any dale, and including books in the French, German, Italian, and Spanish languages:

Library hours 9 am, to 6 p.m. Close on Saturdays at 2 p.m. 1. Yearly and half-yearly subscribers are entitled to 6 vols. at a time in town, or to 12 in the Country. 2. A guinea yearly subscription entitles to one work at a time. 3. Quarterly subscribers are entitled to two works at a - time in town, or to four in the country. 4. Monthly subscriters are entitled to one work at a time in town, or to two in the country. 5. Double subscriptions may he entered, allowing an increased number of books. 6. Expenses incurred for carriage porterage, booking, etc., are charged to the account of the subscriber.
    AUGENER & CO.'s UNIVERSAL CIRCULATING MUSICAL LIBRARY, - 6, New Burlington-st, W.- Established in 1853, now forms the largest and most valuable musical library in the world, Consisting of over 100,00 distinct works and embraces all the works of every eminent composer, both English and foreign. New compositions of merit and general interest, published in England or abroad, are from time to time added to the library. Subscribers, at the expiration of their subscription, are entitled to select from the works published by Messrs. Augener & Co., music to the extent of one-half of the amount of their subscriptions, at full price.
    TERMS OP SUBSCRIPTION.

Town subscribers are supplied with £2 2s. worth of music at a time, which may be exchanged once a week; country subscribers with £4 4s. worth of music at a time, which may be exchanged every month; or £6 6s. worth of music, which may be exchanged every two or three months. Subscribers buying music will enjoy the usual discount. The presentation music must be taken out at the end of every subscription.

Charles Dickens Jr. et al, Dickens Dictionary of London, c.1908 edition
(no date; based on internal evidence)