Being an intern, I get lots of opportunities to explore the world of libraries, both academic and beyond. A recent notable trip was to The Leeds Library, the oldest remaining subscription library in the UK. Having started my library career in a university library (a grand total of 3 months ago...), the Leeds Library seemed like another world, where catalogue cards and loan books were a thing of the not-so-distant past. But this is what gave it so much of its charm.
A particularly intriguing feature lies at its heart, in its very nature as a subscriptions library. Through paying their subscription, the users come to practically own the library itself and as such, have a say in how it is run through numerous member committees.
