Who we are

A brief history of the PLA


The Beginning 1956
Philip Ward, then an eighteen year old student librarian, founded The Private Libraries Association in May 1956, after writing a letter to The Observer suggesting the formation of a society for ‘private librarians’. The response was considerable, and the opening meeting was held soon afterwards, on 8th June 1956, at the St Ermin’s Hotel, Westminster. An book-exchange scheme was started that same year and the twelve-page PLA Quarterly was published in 1957 (its name changed to The Private Library in 1958).
 
Today 2025
Today the Private Libraries Association has hundreds of individual and institutional members. Most, not surprisingly, are in the UK, but there are also members in the USA, Canada, Australia and across Europe.

Members’ collecting interests are most diverse, and include private presses, illustration, binding and restoration, book history, bibliography and much more. Members’ specific interests are analysed in ten double-column pages in the Members’ Handbook – ranging from A. E. (G. W. Russell) to Zapf, Herman and covering every other possible subject that one can possibly imagine. If there's a book on it, our members collect it!

Our governance

Sebastian Carter

President

Vacant

Hon. Chairman

Jim Maslen

Hon. Treasurer

Jim Maslen

Hon. Secretary 

David Butcher

Hon. Editor of The Private Library

Richard Martin

Website & Marketing 

Simon C. Hewett

Hon. Membership Secretary for USA

Ed Jewell

Hon. Membership Secretary for Australasia
Members of Council

• David Butcher
• Christopher Edwards
• David Fry
• Jim Maslen
• Richard Martin
• Paul Nash
• Peter Whetman
Past Presidents of the PLA

• Dr Reinhold Regensburger 1956-60 • D. J. Foskett 1961-63 • Dr Desmond Flower 1963-64 • Percy H. Muir 1964-65 • J. Rives Childs 1965-68 • Sir Arthur Elton Bt 1968-71 • Raymond Lister 1971-74 • Ruari McLean 1974-77 • Douglas Cleverdon 1977-80 • Dr Glyn Tegai Hughes 1980-83 • Dr William B. Todd 1983-86 • John Russell Taylor 1986-89 • Peter Eaton 1989-92 • Dr Iain Bain 1992-95 • Robin de Beaumont 1995-98 • B. C. Bloomfield 1998-2001 • Colin Franklin 2001-04 • Dame Lynne Brindley 2004-07 • Keith Fletcher 2007-13 • Giles Mandelbrote  2013-2019 • Matthew Haley 2019-24
Become a Member today!
Anyone who loves books is warmly invited to join the Private Libraries Association. You will be able to join in the 'Book Conversation', and will receive our quarterly journal, discounts on all our publications and a complimentary members' book every two years. The annual subscription is just £40 (UK rate). 
Students and anyone under the age of 26 will receive membership at only £20
JOIN TODAY