[3] Anderson did not seek a career in libraries, he found himself in the role of Principal Librarian when in 1893 his Agriculture department was closed down and on September 1, 1893 he was appointed Principal Librarian of the Free Public Library at a reduced salary, a position for which it is reported he had 'no desire'.

An active member of the Library Association of Australasia, he trained staff and was first to employ women – partly due to their willingness to accept lower salaries.

Under Anderson’s leadership, the Free Public Library underwent considerable changes with revitalised services and collections developed.

[4] Anderson first met David Scott Mitchell in 1895 and played a major role in encouraging the collector to bequeath and finance his collections to the Library.

A Legislative Assembly Select Committee investigated complaints that he used postal concessions, sold donations, and gave preference to some booksellers, and included ‘blue’ books in the collections.