* Independent Libraries Association

'The Association of Independent Libraries was founded in 1989 to further the conservation restoration and public awareness of a too little known but significant section of our cultural heritage. Equally important remains its aim to develop links between its constituent members by means of co-operative agreements, newsletters, social gatherings and meetings.

'The founding members of the Association were all institutions that began life specifically as independently funded subscription libraries. They were founded between 1768 and 1841 in a period when there were no rate-supported libraries and no university libraries outside Cambridge, Dublin, Edinburgh and Oxford. However, more and more people were reading and books were very expensive to buy, so groups of individuals combined together to form libraries which could be both of everyday use and of increasing value in the future. Many of the Association's members also provided other facilities for their members including museums, adult education and dining facilities. Several continue to do so.

'The members of the Association have grown in number since 1989 and now include libraries of historic foundation that would not necessarily have met the original criteria ...'