The Friends of Thomas Plume’s Library
The Friends of Thomas Plume’s Library were formed in 1988 by a group led by Frank Herrmann who were concerned about the number of books that had gone missing from the Library since it was founded in 1704, some 800 of them. There was also concern about the condition of some of the books, especially their bindings. The Trustees of the Library had carried out repairs but their funds were barely sufficient to maintain the Library and extra funds were urgently needed.
The Friends originally had the simplest of constitutions, but because of the great financial advantages, in 2003 the society applied for, and was granted charitable status. The charity now benefits from an extra income of several hundreds of pounds each year (it is quite variable) from better interest rates and tax refunds on donations.
Over the last 16 years, the Friends have contributed some £32,000 to the Library and included in this is the purchase, with the Trustees, of 161 books. Very occasionally we are able to buy the original book that went missing; one such turned up at auction in New York some years ago and thankfully we were able to acquire it. Also included in the above total is over £3,500 towards the restoration of books and over £4,600 towards the computerisation of the catalogue and for the purchase of an up-to-date computer to run it.
Since the Friends were formed, the cost of 17th century books has risen dramatically and some of the most desirable ‘missing’ books are now quite beyond our means – they can go for as much as £10,000. It is also the case that we are sometimes outbid at auction – recently we authorised bidding up to two bids beyond the top estimate of £600, only to have the book go for £1,200!
The Friends have a membership of 120, who each pay an annual subscription of £5 and we encourage them to enhance this by donation. I am very pleased to be able to record that most of them do this. We send out two newsletters each year; in the Autumn and early Summer. We usually hold a social evening in February to lighten up the dark days. We have had many evenings of readings from the Library accompanied by music and a supper. In 2009 we will be entertained by the Maldon Drama Group with ballads and a one-act play.
Visitors waiting to be admitted to the Library during Heritage Open Day, Sunday 14th September 2008. Some 150 people visited the Library that weekend. The Friends provided stewards for all three sessions.
In May we hold our AGM, usually in the Octagon of St Mary’s church and when we have disposed of our essential business, we have refreshments, followed by a talk. Recent successes have been Dr Bronwen Cook of St Lawrence, talking about her original research into the Port of Maldon and Julia Abel Smith of the Public Foundation Catalogue. This does not, on the face of it, sound very exciting, but she showed us the work she had done, recording the pictures in oil held by public bodies in Essex, including those in the Moot Hall here in Maldon (one of which is of Thomas Plume) and those in the Plume Library.
In the summer we have an outing to a place of particular interest, often to a library to which the public have only have limited access, if ever. In this way we have visited the libraries of Hatfield House, Rochester and Norwich Cathedrals and of Magdalene and Christ’s Colleges, Cambridge. We have also visited the Getty Library in the heart of Buckinghamshire and, once we had found our way through all the security, were able to see one of the finest libraries in private ownership.
The Friends have sponsored two important pieces of outreach for the Library, now both in their second years. First, the Frank and Patricia Herrmann Award of £500 is made biennially (it is funded by the generosity of an overseas Friend who wishes to remain anonymous) for an essay of 3,000-4,000 words, written to a high academic standard on a subject based on the books in the Library or on Dr Plume himself. The Award has been publicized in many of the major journals and institutions concerned with history in the UK. No award has yet been made and we will shortly be advertising again with a closing date in 2009.
The winner, Rebecca Akinyemi (foreground) and the runners-up of the Friends of Thomas Plume’s Library History Prize, 2007/8. The Friends provided stewards to enable the Library to be visited by some 250 pupils in year 8 of the Plume School, (13-14 year olds).
Secondly, the Friends of Thomas Plume’s Library History Prize for £50 and a shield, is awarded for the best piece of work by a Plume School pupil in year 8. This has led to some 250 13-14 year-olds visiting the Library during last year and this will be repeated this year.
By joining the Friends of the Library, you will be materially assisting the continuation, and, indeed, the continuing development, of this very rare survival of the seventeenth century for the benefit of future generations.
We hope you will be sufficiently interested to complete the application form given below and I hope to be able to welcome you at one of our events in 2009.
Tony Doe, Chairman