The London Library

This evening, we are delighted to officially welcome the newest cohort of our flagship Emerging Writers Programme, as we celebrate together at the launch event. Each emerging writer has been given a free London Library membership which includes writing development masterclasses, and networking opportunities to help support their work. This year’s cohort is working on a diverse array of projects, taking us from Afghanistan to Iran, Uganda to Sierra Leone, and beyond. They delve into untold histories and explore the present moment: gentrification in East London to the life of refugees and asylum seekers in the UK and the incarceration of women around the world. They explore art, cannibalism, witchcraft and hauntings, class comedy, and more. Of the 40 writers, six are working on non-fiction and memoir, sixteen are writing novels, three of which are for children or young adults, eight are writing for stage/screen, five are poets, four are writing short stories and one is working on a graphic novel. The emerging writers hail from across the UK, from Sussex to South Wales, Kent to County Durham, Birmingham, Bristol and London and they span an age range from early twenties to early fifties. We can’t wait to see how the Library and its collection inspires and supports this vibrant collective of writers. Click the link in our bio to find out more about the cohort ✍️🥂📚 #EmergingWritersProgramme #TheLondonLibrary #LaunchEventLondon #NewTalent #Inspiration #Writers #NewWriters #LondonCulture #LibraryLove #EmergingWriters

💡Are you searching for a sanctuary where your creativity can flourish? Look no further, the Writers Room is an atmospheric haven. Whether you're crafting your next novel, penning a screenplay, or simply enjoying the art of writing, the Writers Room offers an inspiring and tranquil environment where your creativity can run wild. 📚If you are looking for more inspiration, you can adventure into 17 miles of open access shelves, or experience other atmospheric rooms and desks hidden among stacks across the London Library building. Ready to take your writing to the next level? ✍️ Become a member and turn your literary dreams into reality. #WritersHaven #TheLondonLibrary #LibraryLove #CreativeCommunity #WritersRoom #StudySpace #StudySpacesLondon

🌈 📚#PrideMonth Arguably, the most famous of the London Library’s LGBTQ couples was Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville West. 💌At times tumultuous, their relationship was deeply powerful, with Sackville West writing in 1926: “I am reduced to a thing that wants Virginia…It is incredible how essential to me you have become.” Both their husbands (Leonard Woolf and Sir Harold George Nicolson) were also London Library members, and fully aware of the relationship. All were also members of The Bloomsbury Group, a loose collective of friends and relatives closely associated with the University of Cambridge for the men and King's College London for the women. They all lived, worked or studied together near Bloomsbury, London. Their work and outlook on life was a great influence on literature, aesthetics, criticism, and economics as well as modern attitudes towards feminism, pacifism, and sexuality at the height of their fame in the early to mid-1920s. 🏩Vita Sackville West also had relationships with other London Library members, including the Duchess of Wellington, Dorothy Violet Wellesley and the writer, Margaret Goldsmith. #LGBTHistory #QueerHistory #TheLondonLibrary #LondonLibraryHistory #Pride #LoveisLove #LGBTQ + #Pride2024 #LibraryHistory #HistoryLovers #VirginiaWoolf #VitaSackvilleWest #BloomsburyGroup #HogarthPress #Literature #LiteratureHistory #WritersHistory

We are delighted to announce that Her Majesty The Queen will be continuing her support of The London Library and taking on its Patronage. Her Majesty The Queen is a passionate promoter of Literacy in the UK and internationally, with particular focus on encouraging a love of reading and writing from an early age. The Queen’s Reading Room, the charity and book club of Her Majesty The Queen, celebrates and promotes the power and benefits of reading, helping more people find and connect with books which enrich their lives. For the Library, Her Majesty The Queen’s endorsement will strengthen our efforts to inspire, support and promote the creation and sharing of knowledge and ideas through reading, writing and discussion, and help to establish the Library as the home of literary inspiration. We are grateful to have had support from Her Majesty The Queen since 2012 in which she served as London Library Vice-Patron and hosted events with the Library. We look forward to her continued support over the coming years. Photo: Hugo Burnand #RoyalPatron #TheLondonLibrary #LibraryCharity #Charity #HeritageLibrary #LiteracyCharity #Literacy #Reading #Writing

✍️️The London Library is delighted to announce the newest cohort of its flagship Emerging Writers Programme, which supports early-career writers and is now entering its sixth year. 💡️️️️40 participants were selected anonymously from a field of over 1,700 applicants - a record-breaking number! 📚️Of the 40 writers, six are working on non-fiction and memoir, sixteen are writing novels, three of which are for children or young adults, eight are writing for stage/screen, five are poets, four are writing short stories and one is working on a graphic novel. #EmergingWriters #TheLondonLibrary #Writing #AccessibleOpportunities #NewTalent

Congratulations to London Library member Hannah Rothschild DBE, who was recently awarded a damehood in the King’s Birthday Honours. As an active member and supporter of the Library, we’re grateful for Dame Hannah’s contributions to the arts, and celebrate her extensive work as a writer, filmmaker and philanthropist. #TheLondonLibrary #HannahRothschild #UKCulture #UKCreatives #LondonLibrary #Philanthropy #Filmmaker #Writer #KingsBirthday #KingBirthdayHonours

✍️✨ Happy National Writing Day! ✨✍️ To celebrate, we’re excited to share a special video featuring our incredible library members discussing why our collections are so vital to their work and how our library inspires their writing journeys. 📚✨ From rare manuscripts to cosy reading nooks, discover how our library fuels creativity and supports every writer’s dream. Get inspired by the stories of fellow writers who find magic in our collections. Join us in celebrating the power of words and the places that inspire them! 🖋️Keep writing 🌟Keep dreaming 📚Discover how a London Library membership can help you achieve your writing goals #NationalWritingDay #LibraryLove #WritingInspiration #CreativeCommunity #LibraryCollections #WatchNow #TheLondonLibrary #Screenwriting #Poetry #Literature #WritingCommunity #LondonLibrary #StudySpace

📚✨ Calling all storytellers! ✨📚 National Writing Day is just around the corner, and we've got something special for you! 📝 Whether you're crafting the next great novel, penning poetry, or working on a screenplay, The London Library is here to support your creative journey. 🌟 ✍️ Sign up to our newsletter to unlock a golden opportunity to elevate your writing! /newsletter-signup (link in bio) #WritersOfInstagram #LibraryLove #CreativeWriting #Newsletter #WritingCommunity #TheLondonLibrary #Opportunities

🌈📚 Celebrating Pride Month: Honoring LGBTQ+ Literary Icons 📚🌈 When The London Library opened in 1841, the Victorian era was in full swing, and was considered a far more liberal time than the 1950s in England for anyone identifying as lesbian or gay. Homosexuality had been outlawed since 1533 under The Buggery Act, which was developed and pushed by Henry VIII which made male sex acts punishable by death. #DidYouKnow that since the opening in 1841, the London Library was welcoming to all? With seemingly no one turned away based upon their gender or sexuality. This Pride Month, we’ll be championing the vibrant voices and timeless works of LGBTQ+ authors and creatives who have been historical London Library members, and enriched the world with their creativity, courage, and authenticity. Join us in honouring these trailblazing writers and creatives whose stories continue to inspire and empower generations. #PrideMonth #TheLondonLibrary #QueerHistory #VirginiaWoolf #Literature #LiteratureLegends #VictorianLondon #VictorianHistory #LGBT #Pride2024 #Archives #Writers

Looking to extend your school Library? We're delighted to announce that applications for The London Library subsidised schools' membership are now open! With around one million books in the arts and humanities, extensive online resources and inspiring workspaces to work, study and think, London Library membership is a brilliant resource for any school. Interested? Visit our website for more information and details on how to apply - Link in bio. Applications close on Monday 1 July 2024. #ApplyNow #TheLondonLibrary #SubsidisedResources #AccessibileEducation #Education #LondonLibraryAccess #SchoolsLibrary #OpportunitiesForSchools #OpportunitiesInEducation

We've got that Friday feeling at the Library✨ What’s on your reading list this weekend?📚 #Bookstagram #Bookish #Bibliophile #BookShelves #Stacks #BookWorm #ReadingList #TheLondonLibrary #FridayFeeling

Join us for Refugee Week on Thursday 20 June as poet and playwright Inua Ellams brings his exhilarating live literature phenomenon, the R.A.P Party, back to The London Library for a nostalgic, no-clutter, no-fuss, evening of music and words. This time, in collaboration with Counterpoints Arts, we’re bringing you a line-up of poets from across a spectrum of refugee and migrant backgrounds to explore the theme of Refugee Week 2024: 'Our Home'. And we'll be playing tunes of their choice to to get you on your feet. Our line-up includes: Ammar Haj Ahmad, Elmi Ali, Natalie Linh Bolderston, Inua Ellams, Yanita Georgieva, Sema Gornall, Sophie Herxheimer, Adam Kammerling, Amaal Said, George Szirtes and Tone on the decks. Ten writers + a DJ = the best night out you’ll ever have in a library – or anywhere, for that matter. Book now - link in bio #RefugeeWeek #Event #LondonLibrary #PoetryEvent #LondonPoetry #LondonPoets #London #Library #LiteratureEvent #Prose