| AdminHistory | A Management Sub-Committee was originally appointed in June 1860, by order of the main Free Libraries Committee, although the minutes held at the Birmingham City Archives date from January 1879, and start with a new sequence. It is possible that the earlier material was destroyed in the Central Library fire of January 1879, for the first task that the Management Sub-Committee was given was to report on the origin of the fire and the provision of a temporary lending library. The composition of the sub-committee varied from five to nine members, including the Lord Mayor on occasion. Its function was very wide reaching, and somewhat confusing, as it interacted with other sub-committees that reported to the parent committee, their reports contained amongst the Management Sub-Committee minute books.
The sub-committee initially dealt with staffing issues; visited branch libraries and made recommendations on their buildings and services; dealt with book stock, purchases (with recommendations by the Book Sub-Committee) and donations; and storage and shelving. It also acted (in conjunction with the Finance Sub-Committee) to monitor the financial situation of the Libraries and pass accounts for payment. Finally, it was expected to consider any other specific business directed to it by the main committee, which could take the form of a Special Sub-Sub Committee, as happened in December 1893, when the Management Sub-Committee, the Lending Library Books Sub-Committee (see BCC/1/AT/9) and the Technical School Committee (see BCC/1/BC) met to discuss technical text books available in libraries. |