Support The London Library
The London Library is a registered charity and from its inception, philanthropy has played a central role in helping to keep its doors open. Please consider making a donation today and help us to continue inspiring generations of writers, readers and thinkers.
Today there are a variety of different ways in which your support, whatever its size, can make a real and important difference.
General Donations
If you wish to donate to the core function of the Library you can choose to donate to general funds, which means we can direct your support wherever it is needed most. Donations like these will help ensure the continuous running of the building, and the operation of the Library. Donate here.
The most important contribution towards the core function of the Library comes from the members of our patrons programme; The Founders’ Circle. Learn more about this programme here.
Our Collection
Each year the Library acquires around 6000 new books to add to the collection and the Library's Conservation Team work to keep our existing books in a useable condition.
By supporting us with a donation towards book acquisitions, you can help us improve our collection for current and future generations and ensure that everyone is able to find the books they need to use.
You can also support with a donation towards book conservation. Over the years our books see a lot of wear and tear from usage and there are books in our safes that have become too delicate to handle. A donation towards the care of our collection will allow our Conservation Team to repair damaged books and send rare books away for specialist care, so they can, where possible, be put back into circulation.
Emerging Writers Programme
The Library's Emerging Writers' Programme supports unpublished writers at the start of their careers. Each year a cohort of 40 writers receive one year's free Library membership and a programme of writing masterclasses, networking opportunities and peer support. Find out more about the Emerging Writers Programme here.
The Emerging Writers Programme is entirely funded by donations and sponsorship, please support this programme and help an unpublished writer gain access to the Library and career changing resources.
Supported Membership
In order to make sure the Library is accessible to as many people as possible, the Library offers an assisted membership to those unable to meet the full annual fee. Those who are eligible will normally have membership fees reduced by 30%, or in exceptional cases 60%.
By donating to Supported Memberships, those who may not be able to afford to use the Library's services are provided with the opportunity to join and have access to all the amazing resources of the Library.
Library Fund
The Library Fund is an annual fundraising campaign focused on improving the Library in ways that directly impact its users. Every year, supporters of the Fund make possible one special project to enhance how members and the wider Library community enjoy its buildings or make use of its collections.
In 2018/19 The Library Fund successfully funded the complete replacement of 13 old and damaged windows in the St James's Stacks, helping transform this historic part of the Library and creating wonderful new working spaces. In 2019/20 the Library Fund raised money to refurbish the men's and women's toilets on the Library's red staircase. This project will be completed as soon as is practically possible.
Any new donations to the Library Fund will be put towards future projects to enhance how people use and enjoy the Library.
Find out more about The Library Fund here.
