The London Library has been a centre of inspiration ever since it was founded in 1841 and provides an atmospheric setting for filming and has been used as a location in a wide range of print, broadcast and commercial photography work. The Library’s stunning, yet modest façade hides a wealth of amazing features. Spread across seven interlocking buildings, with 17 miles of open access bookshelves and over one million books, it is a unique hire space. The magnificent Reading Room was opened in 1896 Housing reference works and current periodicals, it offers beautiful views across St. James's Square. Built in the 1930s and extensively refurbished in 2010 by architects Haworth Tompkins (who won a RIBA award for their work), the Art Room's striking contemporary design makes clever reference to the architectural features found in the older parts of the Library. The impressive ceiling helps support six floors of bookstacks directly above it. The Library's famous 1890s bookstacks with their striking iron-grille floors are some of the best-loved parts of the Library. Grade II listed they house four floors of the Library’s History and Science & Miscellaneous collections and three more floors of the Literature collection. The Issue Hall opened in 1896 and is the Library’s historic entrance and reception area overseeing St James’s Square. The Library's labyrinthine basement area contains backruns of over 2,200 periodicals and journals housed on special rolling stacks. The Lightwell Room was originally an open air courtyard designed to allow light into surrounding parts of the building. It has been recently been roofed over with a glass roof and converted into a working space. The Sackler Study was designed in the 1930s by architects Mewes Davis (who also designed the Ritz Hotel) and creates an elegant Georgian Style atmosphere, particularly as the room also features an original Robert Adam fireplace. The 6th Floor Members’ Suite includes informal spaces and a coffee room.