What we are & what we do

   Founded in 1956, The Private Libraries Association is an international society for book collectors of rare antiquarian books, modern fine-press books, books by particular authors, books on specialist subjects... But, 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, designed, written, printed, bound, and associated with care and attention and love.

   We publish the well regarded quarterly journal, The Private Library, which prints excellent essays by members and others about their libraries, specialised collections, the work of the private presses, illustrators and, indeed, any aspect of 'the book' likely to appeal to collectors.  Reviews of new books are also a regular feature. 

   A series of illustrated books 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 worldwide private press output from 1960 to 2010, which has been published by us since 1959.

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