Final update: April 2026

Thanks to the kind support of Library members, we have now reached our target for the Hidden Treasures Library Fund appeal, raising £112,989. 

Thank you to everyone who has contributed. We have already begun recruitment and expect to have our Special Collections Curator in place in the next few months. We will keep members up to date as the Curator starts to research and share the Special Collections. 

We are very excited to see what our new Special Collections Curator will discover amongst these rare and precious objects, which deserve to be seen and celebrated.

We are delighted to have once again partnered with The Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award, which last week announced their 2025 winner as Harry Shukman for Year Of The Rat.

A shocking, eye-opening account of his time spent infiltrating British far-right groups, Harry reveals how they operate, who they are and how they normalise extreme ideologies Published by Chatto & Windus and Vintage Books.

As part of our ongoing partnership with the prize, Harry will benefit from two years' London Library membership. We are proud to celebrate authors of the highest quality at the beginning of their careers and provide a critical support system to the very best talent at work right now.

Last Wednesday, supporters gathered at The London Library for a memorable Chair’s Dinner, where guest of honour Elif Shafak joined Chair of Trustees Simon Godwin for post-dinner conversation. Speaking candidly about writing in a third language, the complexities of Turkification, and the vital role of writers in public life, Shafak offered insight, warmth and inspiration to guests.

Evenings like this are just one of the many highlights of supporting The London Library as a patron. By becoming a Patron, you help sustain the Library’s mission and enjoy invitations to distinctive gatherings of conversation, connection and literary exchange.

To enquire about Patronage, please write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.