Traces the history of Shanghai Public Library, from its founding in 1849 as the Shanghai Book Club and presents much additional information to update an earlier historical article (Haan, 1987). Describes: the transition from a book club to a subscription library; the problems of co-operation; growth of the service and improve ments leading to the transition to a public library; and the pressures of finance and accomodation forcing the final transfer of the library to the Shanghai Municipal Council in 1912. Concludes with a description of the period of its heaviest use, ironically coinciding with the Japanese occupa tion and the demise of the public library as an independent institution.
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