BeFriend a Book

The printed and written word has always been important to Quakers. The beginnings of the Library of the Religious Society of Friends in Britain date back to 1673 when early Friends decided to collect copies of every book or pamphlet written by or about them. As a consequence the Library now has a unique collection of 17th and 18th century literature including "adverse" publications.

From its 17th century roots the Library has grown to become a collection of printed works, manuscripts, archives and images, not only about Quakers and Quakerism but also about subjects with which Quakers have been deeply involved. Quakers are known for their commitment to peace, their contributions to relief work, penal reform, social philanthropy and anti-slavery campaigns. The collections include 18th and 19th anti-slavery tracts, 19th and 20th century peace literature, and extensive archives of Friends' relief work in Europe during and after the two world wars. Luke Howard (1772-1864), the "father of meteorology", who classified and named clouds, John Dalton (1766-1844), who developed the atomic theory of the elements, Joseph Lister (1827-1912), the discoverer of antiseptic medicine, and George Cadbury (1832-1922), creator of Bournville village were all Quakers. All are represented in the Library. The archive collection includes the central records of the Society of Friends from its beginnings in the mid 17th century, and the printed books collection contains 3,500 items printed before 1800.

The Problem: why we need help

Today the Library is one of the most extensive collections in the world about Quakers and their activities. As well as Friends, users include researchers from a variety of disciplines, and genealogists. However, age and years of use are taking their toll on our collections. Many items are in need of repair and conservation treatment, and in some cases we are unable to allow them to be consulted for fear of further damage.

Conservation treatment can take many forms, depending on the conditions and requirements of each item. It can range from simple repairs to existing bindings and boards to a complete rebinding, to the provision of protective boxes and folders for vulnerable and small items, to the cleaning, treatment and repair of pages and documents. We have conducted a survey of our conservation needs using the National Preservation Office's Preservation Assessment Survey, and have prioritised items needing the most attention. 

The leather bindings on these 17th and 18th century books are crumbling; in some cases the boards and spine have become detached and have to be held together by tape.

Positive Steps: how you can help

The BeFriend a Book appeal asks for your help to preserve the Society's history and ensure that these important collections can be used by future Friends and researchers of Quaker history. Preserving one item can cost anywhere between fifty pounds to several thousands. By making a donation you can play a valuable role in conserving the Quaker heritage. For example:

• £10 will allow us to buy 15 acid-free protective folders for pamphlets and loose items.
• £50 will allow us to provide a new protective box for some of our 17th and 18th century pamphlets.
• £100 will mean a simple rebinding of a 19th century book.
• £500 will enable a fragile 19th century manuscript notebook to be repaired, cleaned, sewn back together and housed in a protective box.
• £1,000 will allow a large archives volume to be repaired by disbinding, cleaning and repairing the pages, rebinding and making a protective slipcase. 

A19th century binding of 17th century tracts. The volume is too thick and has been bound too tighly; the pages are curing because of the different sizes of paper.

What you will receive

• Your gift will be recorded in a Book of Donors.
• You and a guest will be invited to occasional events in the Library where you will have the opportunity to see how your gift has contributed to the conservation of the Library's collections.
• You will also receive a newsletter to keep you in touch with our conservation work.

An "adverse" tract by Francis Bugg (1640 - 1727). Bugg had been a Quaker but became one of Quakerism's most bitter opponents and wrote a stream of abusive tracts.

Gift Aid notes

• You must pay an amount of income tax and/or capital gains tax at least equal to the tax that the charity reclaims on your donations in the tax year: currently this is 25p for each pound you give.
• If your circumstances change in the future and you no longer pay income tax and/or capital gains tax equal to the tax that the charity reclaims, you should cancel your declaration.
• If you pay tax at the higher rate, you can claim further tax relief in your tax return.
• If the declaration covers donations you may make in the future:
  • please notify us if you change your name or address while the declaration is still in force;
  • you can cancel your declaration at any time by notifying us. It will then not apply to donations you make on or after the date of the cancellation or such later date as you specify
• If you are unsure whether your donations qualify for Gift Aid tax relief, ask Quaker Communications Department, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ (donations enquiries 020 7663 1119, email: andrewm@quaker.org.uk), or contact your local tax office for leaflet IR113 Gift Aid.
• If you made this declaration orally, by telephone or in person, you have the right to cancel it within 30 days from the date we send confirmation. If you do so, it will be as if the declaration was never made.

The Library Committee of Quaker Life is responsible to Britain Yearly Meeting for the care and use of the Library's collections. The Library is funded solely by Britain Yearly Meeting's members and meetings. It receives no external public funding for its core costs.

To make a donation, please use the downloadable donation form [PDF: 56kb - new indow]

For all donations and enquiries, please contact:

BeFriend a Book (Library)
Freepost
Friends House
173 Euston Road
London
NW1 2YS
Library enquiries 020 7663 1135
email: library@quaker.org.uk