One of the Britain’s oldest lending libraries has found itself at the centre of a furious censorship row.
The London Library, which was founded in 1841 as the first lending library in the capital, has banned its members from issuing leaflets on its premises amid a row over development plans.
Plans for a £5million development which would see a rooftop garden and a cafe added to the library have concerned some members of the library.
But while they are worried about the impact of the new additions, they are seething at an “outrageous” bid to silence dissent over the plans.
Campaigners who oppose the development plans had started distributing flyers to fellow members of The London Library, handing them at to those arriving and leaving them on desks.
In response, the library imposed a new rule which bans the distribution of “posters, flyers, leaflets, notices or similar anywhere on the premises”.
Reacting with anger, one former trustee of the organisation told The Times that it was “outrageous for the London Library, which wants to be part of the cultural life of the capital and the country, to start banning debate”.
“The infuriating thing at the moment as this scheme gets bigger and bigger is the ban on the leafleting,” Rick Stroud added.
Plans for a £5million development would see a rooftop garden and a cafe added to the library
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THE LONDON LIBRARY
“It is pretty outrageous. It is censorship right at the heart of a library, which should be about free speech and debate.”
The library argues the expansion will help to attract new people to the organisation, with a target of 800 new members paying more than £400,000 per year in fees.
The London Library is steeped in history, with founding subscribers including Charles Dickens, John Stuart Mill, Harriet Martineau, radical MP Joseph Hume, and future Prime Minister Lord John Russell.
Prince Albert became the first patron of the institution and also donated £50 and a number of books to help the collection get going. Today, Queen Camilla is patron of the organisation.
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The London Library was founded in 1841 as the first lending library in the capital
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THE LONDON LIBRARY
Literary giants Alfred Lord Tennyson and T.S. Eliot have previously held the position of president at the library, with actor Helena Bonham Carter the incumbent in the role.
The library said it had updated its rules on leaflets “following recent feedback from our members”.
It said leaflets could be pinned to a noticeboard that the library “may specifically make available for such member notices from time to time”.
Rejecting claims it is attempting to shut down debate over the expansion plans, the library added it “welcomes members” giving their views to “improve spaces in the building and enhance members’ experiences”.