A column on the history of the establishment of the Australian Subscription Library and the governor, Sir George Gipps, wish that the Library become a public institution. 'In consequence of this', the author of the article writes, '... the Committee ... [will] make the Institution ... a public one, reserving to the original subscribers ... the exclusive privilege of the entree to a private room, the grand hall ... being thrown open to all who choose to become connected with the Institution.'.