An historic, independent library with a collection of over 20,000 books, constantly updated. Our books include…
- Contemporary, classic and crime fiction
- Biography, history and history of art
- Poetry and plays
- Science
Special collections
Our Coleridge Room holds our special collections on London, Highgate, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and John Betjeman.
- Our London Collection covers all aspects of the capital: history, waterways, architecture, transport, guilds, its people and more. Highgate itself is more comprehensively represented, and together with our Archives this collection offers an extremely useful resource for anyone interested in exploring the history of our area;
- Both Coleridge and Betjeman lived locally, Betjeman in childhood and Coleridge in the last years of his life. These collections include works by and about both these poets.
Children’s corner
Our children’s corner holds many classics, as well as new titles for the very young, for new and for confident readers, and for young adults.
Getting involved at the Library
Volunteers in the library have a range of duties:
- Library desk: staff the library desk occasionally or regularly. No library expertise needed — though if you have it, there are additional tasks you could help with;
- Desk duties i.e., managing the circulation of stock (issues, returns, reserves etc.);
- Dealing with enquiries, tidying shelves and re-shelving returns;
- Preparing new books, including cataloguing & jacketing;
- Promoting books, creating displays, and compiling reading lists;
- Book repair and preservation;
- Promoting HLSI & the library with library tours, book fairs, author events etc.
Reading Groups
HLSI members have formed several Reading Groups, some of which are general, others for those with more specific interests. Each group is led by a member of HLSI who arranges the time and place of meetings.
If you are interested in joining one of these groups, or in starting a new one, please contact the office in the first instance.
Please click here to find out about our reading groups
