On this day, Calcutta Gazette reported that Calcutta Circulating Library had been reopened and the subscription had been set again at ₹6 per month.

Circulating libraries were functional in Calcutta from the 18th century and though few, they present a history of intense competition and complex mergers.

In the old city fort, a circulation library had been up by John Andrews, a bookseller.

John Hay, printer of the weekly India Gazette, had set up New Circulating Library in rivalry to Andrews’ library, with a monthly subscription of ₹6 in 1786.

After Hay died in 1787, James Shakell became the printer of India Gazette and owner of New Circulating Library.

By this time Messrs Macdonald and Arnot were running Andrews’ library.

In December 1787, Messrs Cock, Maxwell & Co took over New Circulating Library. They merged Andrews’ library with it and opened a bigger library called Calcutta Circulating Library.

By 1792, this, too, had stopped functioning. Calcutta Circulating Library was bought at the sheriff’s sale by another Calcutta printer, Joseph Cooper.

Calcutta Gazette reported on the reopening of the library by Cooper with the older subscription rate.