We know that John Colley a pioneer of the district from 1853, donated a building allotment in 1876, on which the committee erected the building. A reading room and library were added in 1887 and over the years alterations were made to the building. During its early life it was the only building available where small entertainments could be held. (John Colley was on the committee from its beginning until the day he left Warren in 1903).
The issues of the NSW Government Statistical Registers show that in 1889 it was reported that the Warren Mechanics' Institute had been opened in 1886, it was a freehold property and the cost of erection of the building amounted to £331, it received £9 as a Government subsidy and £18 from private contributors. There were 179 volumes in the library and 17 members used the library regularly during the year. We believe this was in the original wooden building and that later the brick building still standing today was erected circa 1890.
In 1899 it was reported that the Warren Mechanics' Institute had been opened in 1890 (Think there must be an error in dates somewhere), subscriptions by members towards the maintenance fund amounted to £20.1.0, Government subsidies of £75.15.3 were received for the erection of the building and £278.8.8 for maintenance.
In 1900 was again stated that the Institute had opened in 1890, subscriptions towards maintenance amounted to £17.16.6 and Government subsidies were received - £75.15.3 for the building fund and £287.0.11 for maintenance.
In 1901 it was again stated that the Institute had opened in 1890, subscriptions towards maintenance amounted to £22.9.3 and Government subsidies were received - £75.15.3 for the building fund and £298.4.2 for maintenance.
In 1902 subscriptions towards maintenance amounted to £22.9.3 and a Government subsidy of £11.4.7 was received for maintenance.
In 1904 a billiard table was installed although money was not in great supply at theat period. The table was financed by debentures of two pound ten shillings redeemable over a period of years. In 1905, the President of the committee, George Selff(postmaster) advertised for a Librarian and Caretaker. Thomas Sparkes Jnr. Was appointed to the part-time postion.
The Institute was controlled be a committee with great success until 1949 when, under powers conferred by the Library Act, the Institute was taken over by the Warren Municipal Council and then became a Public Library. After the amalgamation of the Shire and the Municipality, the Library came under the control of the Warren Shire. With some alterations to the building the library remained on the original site until 1968.
In the issue 1914-15 it was reported that Warren Mechanics' Institute had 98 members, 1,163 books on its shelves, the approximate value of the library was £100 and the value of their building was £350. They received a government grant of £13, a further £35 was raised from private subscriptions, £85 from billiards and £45 was spent on books, £127 on building maintenance and £24 on billiards.
Over the years following the library moving to its present location, it was the office for the local accountant, operated in the front part of it. When finally the premise proved too small, the business moved to new premises about 1990. The building, owned by the Shire, was sold to 1993 (about) to a Mr. Frank Leach of Warren.
I wish to acknowledge Roland Brennan’s book “Across the Black Soil Plains”, Sandra O’Brien and Dr Elizabeth Richardson, researcher of Mechanics Institutes for Australia for their past research.
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