On 4 December, Library Vice President Alexandra Shulman and Chair of Trustees Simon Godwin hosted Library supporters at the President’s Christmas Party. The annual event, held in our atmospheric Reading Room, celebrates and thanks the vibrant community of people who support The London Library through their philanthropy. Guests enjoyed readings from Andrew O’Hagan, Olivia Williams and Stephen Fry and music from Johnny Flynn & The Sheldrakes. 

Founders’ Circle patrons are first on the guestlist for the biannual President’s parties, in addition to being invited to a varied programme of exclusive events in and outside the Library. To find out more, please visit the Patrons webpage or contact our Patrons team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Meanwhile at the members’ Christmas Party on Wednesday 11 December, members toasted the festive season with drinks, nibbles and readings from Library Trustee, actress, director, lecturer and award-winning writer Anni Domingo and bestselling novelist and freelance TV executive Samuel Burr.  

Samuel read from his internationally bestselling debut novel, The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, and Anni read The Boy Who Laughed At Santa Claus, by Ogden Nash, a light-hearted poem that warns of the dangers of mocking the man in red.