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The Private Libraries Association (PLA) came into being in 1956 when 18-year-old Philip Ward wrote a letter to the '' Observer'' inviting booklovers and book collectors to attend a meeting to discuss the setting up of an association whose aims would be:- *To help readers in the organisation, cataloguing and fuller enjoyment of their personal collections; *To cover every subject field by voluntary organised specialisation, and to record locations for loans. Although the membership has always included distinguished experts, it largely consists of ordinary collectors who share their enthusiasms and their knowledge. Since its foundation, the PLA has published a quarterly journal, originally called ''P.L.A. Quarterly'' but quickly renamed (from 1958) ''The Private Library''; since Spring 1968, the journal has appeared in a standard format of some 40-50 pages containing two or three illustrated articles. It also publishes a members’ book every year or two years. The articles and books are written by members and cover a wide range of subjects – classic fine printing and modern private presses, modern small presses and
children's books A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger ...
, illustrators and
publishers Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditionally, the term refers to the creation and distribution of printed works, such as books, news ...
, famous books and the history of
printing Printing is a process for mass reproducing text and images using a master form or template. The earliest non-paper products involving printing include cylinder seals and objects such as the Cyrus Cylinder and the Cylinders of Nabonidus. The e ...
, bookplates and
bookbinding Bookbinding is the process of physically assembling a book of codex format from an ordered stack of ''signatures'', sheets of paper folded together into sections that are bound, along one edge, with a thick needle and strong thread. Cheaper, b ...
,
bookselling Bookselling is the commercial trading of books which is the retail and distribution end of the publishing process. People who engage in bookselling are called booksellers, bookdealers, bookpeople, bookmen, or bookwomen. The founding of librari ...
, etc.. Details of the books and ''the Private Library'' can be found on the association’s website.The website of the Private Libraries Association
/ref> The current Chairman of the Association is James Freemantle.


References

{{Authority control Book and manuscript collectors Book arts Book collecting Organizations established in 1958