Collection Development & Management

How The London Library develops, manages and cares for its collections.
A conservator brushing paste along the gutter of an open book beside an engraved plate.

Collection Development & Management

The London Library’s Collection Development, Management Principles & Procedures outline the approach used to shape, maintain and care for the collection. They explain how new material is acquired, how collections are managed within finite space, and how decisions are made regarding storage, conservation and stock management.

These principles support the continued growth and relevance of the collection while preserving the unique browsing experience that defines the Library. The guidance is intended for members, researchers and anyone interested in understanding more about how the collection is developed and maintained. 

 

Read Principles & Procedures
Hands tucking a care-and-use leaflet into a pink-bound book beside a press.
A conservator marking a measurement on card with a pencil and wooden rule.
A cast-iron embossing press used to stamp the Library's mark into its books.
A conservator trimming linen with a scalpel against a steel rule on a cutting mat.
Two members of staff looking through a large folio of hand-coloured natural history plates.
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Search our Collection
When the Library opened its doors in 1841 the collection consisted of only 3,000 books. Today we hold over 1 million volumes and continue to add around 6,000 new ones every year.

Archive & Special Collections
Explore The London Library's Archives and Special Collections: rare books, papers and records charting literary and cultural history since the 1500s.