. Lending libraries had been in existence from the 17th century onwards. . In the 19th century, lending libraries in England became instruments for educating white collar workers, artisans and lower middle class people. . History: India and the Contemporary World—II . Sometimes, self-educated working class people wrote for themselves. . When their working hours were reduced, they could get time for self-improvement and self expression. They wrote political tracts and autobiographies in large numbers.