| AIL Directory |
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| 1: Institution | The Leeds Library |
| 2: Founded | 1768 |
| 3: Postal address | 18 Commercial Street, Leeds LS1 6AL |
| 4: Tel. Fax. Email Web |
Tel: 0113 2453071 Fax: 0113 2451191 The Leeds Library website enquiries@leedslibrary.co.uk |
| 5: AIL contact | Geoffrey Forster, Librarian |
| 6: Hours | Monday-Friday, 09.00-17.00 |
| 7: Membership details | 500 Proprietary Members who have each purchased a Share and pay an annual subscription (currently £45.00): and up to 300 Associate Members who pay an annual subscription (currently £60.00). The partners and children of Members are also allowed to use the Library. |
| 8: Activities, publications etc. | Occasional social events; annual lecture in memory of Joseph Priestley (1733-1804), the Library's first Secretary; occasional newsletter, The Dial, and other publications. |
| 9: Refreshments | Coffee and tea making facilities. |
| 10: Visitors / Researchers | By prior appointment: researchers require a letter of reference from an appropriate institution or a professional person. |
| 11: Background information | The Leeds Library is the oldest surviving proprietary subscription library in the British Isles. It is located in purpose-built premises in the heart of Leeds city centre. There is a long-standing tradition of allowing access to bona fide researchers. Close links are maintained with local public and academic libraries. |
| 12: Collections | A stock of over 135,000 books which is particularly strong in travel, biography, history and literature. There are long runs of periodicals, popular novels and children's books and special collections of Civil War pamphlets and Reformation Tracts. About 1,000 new books and 'talking books' on audio cassette are added annually. A large proportion of the Library's holdings is available for loan to subscribers. |
| 13: Building | Grade II* listed 1808 Greek Revival building by Thomas Johnson with major 1880-81 extension to the rear by Thomas Ambler. |
| 14: Status | Proprietary subscription library. 2004/03/15 |