In 1807, Gibraltar merchants had founded a library in Bedlam Court, as they were denied membership of the Garrison Library, it being available only to members of the British garrison in the city (the Garrison Library functioned not only as a library, but as a club, owned and run by and for military officers; civilians were excluded, regardless of their prominence).
I 1807 havde de handlende grundlagt biblioteket i Bedlam Court, efter at de var blevet nægtet medlemskab til det næsten nyåbnede Kasernebibliotek, idet dette kun tillod medlemmer af den britiske garnison i byen (Kasernebiblioteket fungerede ikke blot som bibliotek, men også som klub, ejet og drevet af officerer; her var civile forment adgang, uanset hvor velanskrevne de ellers måtte være).