The London Library

As part of OpenHouseLondon weekend had a very interesting tour round The London Library.

From Wikipedia: The London Library is the world's largest independent lending library, and one of the UK's leading literary institutions. It was founded in 1841 by a group of men who included Thomas Carlyle, who was dissatisfied with some of the policies at the British Library. The library has been based at 14 St. James's Square since 1845, having originally occupied the first floor of the Travellers Club at 49 Pall Mall.