Poetry library
| Type | National library |
|---|---|
| Scope | Including contemporary UK poetry publications since 1912 |
| Established | 1953 |
| Location | Level 5, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London SE1 8XX |
| Collection | |
| Items collected | books, journals, cuttings, poetry magazines, audio and video recordings, children's poetry, critical texts |
| Size | over 200,000 items |
| Access and use | |
| Access requirements | Open to anyone. Free membership |
| Website | The Poetry Library |
The Poetry Library is a free public collection housed at Royal Festival Hall in London's Southbank Centre. Situated on the fifth floor of the Royal Festival Hall, overlooking the river Thames, the library aims to hold all contemporary UK poetry publications since 1912. It houses the largest collection in Britain, numbering over 200,000 items, including works by small presses. It also holds audio and video materials, critical texts and works for children for loan and reference.
The library contains work by non-UK poets and publishers and press cuttings are also archived for members' research. Membership is free and material is borrowed through the national inter-lending library services or returned by post. The library provides support for schools nationally and locally. The venue has an exhibition and event space.
Use and enjoy this place. Burrow in, borrow on.
This is a pleasant library. I'd enjoy every minute
But for the danger of meeting other poets in it.
The library was established in 1953 on the recommendation of the Poetry Panel of the Arts Council of Great Britain, with the remit of promoting modern and contemporary poetry. Opened by poets TS Eliot and Herbert Read, the library quickly grew beyond the capacity of premises and then the next, moving from Albemarle Street to Piccadilly, to Long Acre in Covent Garden and then to a larger space back in Piccadilly.
It has been located at the Royal Festival Hall since 1988, when Seamus Heaney opened the new venue. With the relocation, the library was given the Signal Poetry Collection of children's poetry books which had been held by Book House. This formed the basis for the library's body of works for children and young adults, available for loan and reference. The beech furniture was designed for the site by Terrance Conran. The library was closed from 2005 to 2007 during refurbishment of the Festival Hall building. Its re-opening was celebrated with London's first festival of literature.
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