BOOKS MATTER

Welcome to the Private Libraries Association 2025

"What is the use of a book"

said Alice, "without pictures

or conversation?"

There will be pictures,

so let's start the conversation...

Now online: 'Fine Press Bibliography 2011-2026'

Libraries and books are mostly about paper and ink, but online publication counts too! Not least when new information and insight is constantly presenting itself. And so it is with Howard Kistler's 'Fine Press Bibliography 2011-2026', first published online on 14th August 2025, and now in version 5 of 31st January 2026. 130k words across 300 pages, a magnificent achievement and lots more to come.

See the work HERE

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2025

The PLA agm took place online (via ZOOM) at 2pm on Wednesday 10th September 2025. Those members who attended were able to participate in the management of our Association. Jim Maslen, the PLA secretary, will be sending draft minutes to members.

Thank you for attending on 10th September

Meet Sebastian Carter, our new President: HERE

Read the draft agm minutes: HERE

Who we are & what we do

Founded in 1956, The Private Libraries Association is an international society for collectors of rare antiquarian books, modern fine-press books, books by particular authors, illustrators and publishers, books on specialist subjects, and much besides...

Above all, the PLA is for those who collect books for the pleasure of handling and reading and ownership, and for the joys of a book simply as an object, written, designed, printed, bound, and associated with care and attention and love.

We publish the well-regarded quarterly journal, The Private Library , which prints serious (and not so serious!) essays by members and others about their libraries, specialised collections, the work of interesting printers and private presses, illustrators, and bookbinders, and any other aspect of 'the book' likely to appeal to collectors. Reviews of new books are also a regular feature.

A series of illustrated works on specialised aspects of book collecting has been issued over the past fifty years, and you'll find those still in print described in our current Books Catalogue HERE .

Also available is the annual bibliography Private Press Books , the definitive checklist for private press output worldwide, in English, from 1960 to 2010. We are proud to say that The Private Libraries Association has published PPB since 1959.

And of course we welcome new members... See below.

Private Library Seventh Series Volume 1:1 Spring 2018

One of the endearing vagaries of our Association means that this 'Winter 22' issue of PL will be the next to appear, later in 2025! What is more, it might not even be this colour!

Stop press: 23rd August 2025. It's now out...

And it has a red cover!

NEW: Examples of the terrific input from PLA members:

'Fine Press Bibliography 2011-2025: A work in progress' Click HERE

'Eliza Giffard: family, home, library, and novels' Click HERE

Become a member of the Private Libraries Association today

Next year, 2026, will mark our 70th anniversary, as enthusiasm for all things Private Library Association continues to grow.

You are very welcome to become a member of the Private Libraries Association, and join this community of hundreds of individual and institutional enthusiasts for the book.

To help encourage anyone who loves books to join us, we keep the annual subscription to a modest £40 (UK rate). And for that, all members receive our well-respected quarterly journal, packed with interesting articles on all manner of subjects relating to books. Members also receive discounts on all our publications and a free, and beautifully printed and bound members book every 2-3 years.

There is also the opportunity to come together at our occasional events, zoom lectures, and of course you can join in with the general conversation online with other members.

Students, and anyone under the age of 26, will receive membership at only £20.

Just click on the button below, and find out more...

JOIN TODAY

NEWS

BOOKS MATTER

Welcome to the Private Libraries Association 2025

Who we are & what we do

Become a member of the Private Libraries Association today

The Scholartis Press

David Chambers remembered

Sometimes it's not the book...

A rather splendid book catalogue

"Too much Nag!" at the York Book Fair

Open Day at Whittington on Saturday 6th September 2025