Benefiting by membership of a mutual improvement society run by William Urwick, then congregational minister of Hatherlow, Cheshire, he made use of the Manchester public library and similar institutions.
[1] His early acquaintance with public libraries and his personal gratitude to them convinced him of the need of increasing their number and improving their organisation.
Thanks to his advocacy many rate-supported libraries were opened in London and elsewhere in commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
[1] Greenwood formed a large bibliographical library, illustrating all phases of bibliographical work and research, which he presented to the Manchester public library in 1906, making additions to it afterwards, and leaving at his death sufficient money for its maintenance.
[1] Formerly a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Greenwood travelled extensively, and in Japan in 1907 contracted an illness of which he died at Frith Knowl, Elstree, Hertfordshire, on 9 November 1908.