| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act for further promoting the Establishment of Free Public Libraries in Municipal Towns, and for extending it to Towns governed under Local Improvement Acts, and to Parishes. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 18 & 19 Vict. c. 70 |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 30 July 1855 |
The Public Libraries Act 1855 (18 & 19 Vict. c. 70) amended the Public Libraries Act 1850.
The provisions were:[2]
- to extend the right to adopt public library legislation beyond municipal boroughs to parish vestries
- to reduce the population requirement from 10,000 to 5,000
- to allow parishes to group together to meet the population requirement
- to explicitly include the Metropolis
- to allow adoption if a two thirds majority were in favour at a public meeting
