Thank you for booking for The London Library. Please read these guidelines before you come to the event.

• Please do not arrive at the Library before the advertised doors opening time as you will not be able to enter the building.  
• You do not need to print your ticket. Please just give your name to Library staff on reception as you come in.  
• For most public speaker events drinks will be served in the Issue Hall prior to the event and doors to the Reading Room will open five minutes before the talk begins. For book launches, salons, prize announcements and parties, the bar will be in the Reading Room. When relevant, books will be on sale either in the Issue Hall or Reading Room before and after the event. 
• If you need step-free access, please let us know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and enter via the Masons Yard entrance in the eastern corner of Masons Yard. The Reading Room is accessible via the lift, as are the disabled toilets in the basement. Please let us know if you are in a wheelchair and we will reserve a space for you.
• The health of our visitors and staff remains our top priority, and we’ll continue to keep procedures in place to ensure your visit is as safe as possible. This includes hand sanitiser points and ventilation throughout the building.  
• All events take place in our Reading Room, which will be well ventilated throughout events with large windows open on both sides of the room. Please be aware that this can sometimes mean the room is a little cool.
• Please do not attend if you have Covid symptoms or have had a positive Covid test. Where relevant in these circumstances, we’re happy to provide a refund – please just get in touch 24 hours before the event on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   

We’re looking forward to welcoming you to The London Library.  

The London Library will be closed throughout the Bank Holiday Weekend Saturday 28 – Monday 30 August inclusive. We’ll be open for business as usual from 10am on Tuesday 31 August.

Although the building will be closed during this period our extensive online resources will be fully available, with Catalyst enabling you to search and return results from all of our print holdings and 95% of our electronic resources, including articles from electronic journals.

(L: Note to Library member, J.G. Cochrane, first Secretary and Librarian of the London Library ca. 1845. Library Artefacts, SJS Basement Store, Shelf 4; R: Plan showing bomb damage to the Library)

The London Library Archive collects, preserves and maintains the Library's archival collections and manages member enquiries and access to the materials. The Archive is made up of all working papers, artefacts and ephemera created by the Library from its inception to the present.

With over 1800 items, the Archive contains correspondence, membership forms, minutes, property deeds, building plans, manuscripts and audio-visual materials that speak to the heart of the Library, its members and staff from its founding in 1841. The Library’s Archivist is Nathalie Belkin.

Working closely with Collection Care, the Archivist preserves the collections by implementing archival standards for cataloguing, preservation, housing and storage.  The Archivist manages copyright, permissions, licensing and reproduction of its materials for use by researchers.   

(L: Plan of The London Library;  R: Request from W. Somerset Maugham to hold a specific book for him. Issue Books, SJS Basement Storage, Box 39)

View archival documents

The London Library conducts invigilations by appointment with 72-hours’ notice. To set up an appointment or for any research enquiries, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.