The London Library is delighted to be taking part in the BBC's Big Book Weekend with an exciting event featuring Sir Tim Rice and Daniel Hahn at 10am on Sunday 10 May.
The Big Book Weekend is a three-day virtual book festival that brings together the best of the cancelled British literary festivals, with a range of events 'presented' by the relevant festival, featuring the authors and other artists that would have appeared.
Sir Tim Rice, President of the London Library, is the lyricist behind some of the biggest stage and screen musicals including Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, The Lion King and Aladdin. His collaborators have included Andrew Lloyd Webber, Alan Menken and Elton John, and he has written lyrics for acts as diverse as Elvis Presley, Placido Domingo and 10cc.
In this interview with author Daniel Hahn, he will discuss his life and career, the inspiration for his award-winning musicals, the partnerships which have underpinned his word, and what it takes to pen some of the best-known lyrics ever written.
Register online with MyVLF to watch this event and many others for free. The festival will be broadcast live between 8-10 May and once a day’s programming has finished, that day’s videos will remain online for people to catch up on.
See you there!
Episode 6: Nigel House
We hope you enjoy the latest London Library podcast featuring Rough Trade’s Nigel House.
Nigel takes us through the books that have made an impact on him throughout his life including Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome, Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad, Canada by Richard Ford and The Rings of Saturn by WG Sebald.
The London Library Podcast is a celebration of books and the ideas they inspire and a personal love letter from each guest to the books that have been most influential to them.
The London Library Postal Loans service enables members to borrow Library books from the comfort of their own homes without needing to visit the Library.
Simply browse the online catalogue for a book (or several) and select Request - Pickup location – home address and we will post them to you.
Parcels are sent by Royal Mail. Currently, there is no fee for postage and members can borrow 15 books at any one time.
How to use the Postal Loans service:
1. Log in to Catalyst
2. Browse for the book(s) you would like to borrow
3. Select ‘Request – pickup location – home address
4. Wait for your books to be delivered by Royal Mail
Of course it's not just books that are available to use at home. We also provide an extensive range of electronic resources – from JSTOR periodicals, databases and newspapers – giving members online access, from anywhere in the world, to over 25,000 academic journals and other scholarly resources.
Member Services staff are available by email to help with any enquiries you may have, please contact them on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
In episode 5 of The London Library Podcast, we are joined by Valerie Brandes, the founder and publisher of diversity-focused, independent publishing house Jacaranda Books.
Valerie talks about identity, motherhood and the books that have shaped her life and career - from moving to America, then back to Hackney and setting up her own publishing business. As well as Jacaranda's Twentyin2020 initiative, which The London Library is currently supporting, promoting Black British writing through exclusively dedicating a year of publishing output to 20 Black British writers.
The London Library Podcast launched on 18 November 2019 and features a leading writer or figure in the cultural world discussing the books which have shaped them. Each month the guest is in conversation with The London Library’s Director, Philip Marshall and delves into the Library’s archive and collection to uncover treasured books and nuggets of historical detail about the guest’s book choices.
The Podcast is a celebration of books and the ideas they inspire and a personal love letter from each guest to the books that have been most influential to them.
Read more: London Library Podcast Episode 5: Valerie Brandes