Leeds Library
The Leeds Library is the oldest surviving subscription library of its type in the UK. It was founded in 1768[1] following an advertisement placed in the Leeds Intelligencer earlier that year. The first secretary was Joseph Priestley. The library moved several time in its early years before settling in the purpose built premises on Commercial Street, Leeds on 4 July 1808. This building is a grade II* listed Greek Revival building by Thomas Johnson with major 1880-81 extension to the rear by Thomas Ambler.
As of April 2011 the library has over 800 members who pay an annual subscription. The library is estimated to have a stock of over 140 000 titles. It also contains more modern items such as audiobooks and DVDs. The library's extensive collection is frequently used by researchers who are not members.
The library holdings also incorporate the stock of the short lived Leeds Foreign Library. The Foreign Library was founded in 1778 and incorporated into the Leeds Library in 1814.
The library is the setting for much of Frances Brody's 2014 novel Death of an Avid Reader.
References
Further reading
- Catalogue of the Leeds Library. 1889. (includes history of the library)
- Forster, Geoffrey (2001). 'A Very Good Public Library': early years of the Leeds Library. Wylam: Allenholme Press. ISBN 1-873383-09-6.
- Beckwith, Frank (1968). The Leeds Library 1768-1968 (privately printed ed.). Leeds: Leeds Library.
- Beckwith, Frank (1994). The Leeds Library 1768-1968: with a new preface by Dennis Cox (Second ed.). Leeds: Leeds Library.
- Trevor H. Hall (1965). "The Mystery of the Leeds Library". New Light on Old Ghosts. Gerald Duckworth. pp. 35–53.
External links
- Official website
- Facebook page
- Twitter page
- Association of Independent Libraries directory entry
- Historic England. "Details from image database (466036)". Images of England.
- The Leeds Library, Registered Charity no. 1114386 at the Charity Commission
Coordinates: 53°47′51″N 1°32′40″W / 53.7975°N 1.5444°W