On April 4, 1910 the library opened its lending service with a stock of 5,700 books. Developments: The Georgetown Free Public Library (1911-1949) In 1934, the Carnegie Corporation of New York commissioned a report on the Carnegie libraries in British and American colonies in the Caribbean, which was undertaken by Ernest Savage, the secretary of the Library Association of the UK. Savage's report resulted in a $10,000 grant towards a centralized library system in the Eastern Caribbean and British Guiana region, into which the Georgetown Public Free Library was integrated. In 1940, the library introduced an open access system, allowing members to browse the shelves to select books, which increased membership dramatically. Expansion: The Free Public Library (1950-1971) In 1950, the Government of British Guiana passed a major amendment to legislation relating to the Georgetown Public Free Library, which was titled Ordinance 13 of 1950 or the "Public Free Library Ordinance". This amendment extended the scope of the government's obligation to the public library service to include library branches and other library services anywhere else in the colony. From this moment, therefore, the Georgetown Free Public Library became the headquarters of a national public library service, and was renamed the Free Public Library. In August 1950, the Deputy Director of the Eastern Caribbean Regional Library, Mr J. Smeaton, came to British Guiana to advise the librarian, Ruby Franker, on the reorganisation of the Public Free Library and the development of a Rural Library Service to provide library services to areas outside of Guyana's major cities, towns and settlements. Following the Ordinance of 1950, the Public Free Library began to extend its reach throughout Guyana with the establishment of branches in major settlement areas and the introduction of a number of additional services. The first branch of the Public Free Library was opened in New Amsterdam on 23 April 1953. Its initial collection included 2,000 books, and the library was guaranteed a $1,000 annual grant from the New Amsterdam Town Council. In February 1955 a branch was opened in the township of MacKenzie (now part of Linden) with a collection of 3,021 books. The library building was provided by the Demerara Bauxite Company (DEMBA). In 1950 the Public Free Library introduced a Rural Library Service, in accordance with the advice provided by Smeaton. The first Rural Library Centre was established in Hague Village in West Coast Demerara in Region 3 on