About our library

The Marc Weinberg Community Library & Michael & Ruth Phillips Rare Books Room

Combining the best of the old and the new, the LSJS library is a valuable resource of British Jewry. The first official record of a library in Jews’ College was in 1859, when Lewis Mayer Rothschild donated the library collection which he purchased from the Jews’ and General Literary and Scientific Institution. Over the years, the library grew from individual and organisational donations.

Fast forward to 2010, following the passing of Marc Weinberg – a great friend and former trustee of LSJS, it was decided that in his memory we would refurbish and modernise the library to increase access to these great texts. Opened in May 2015, the Marc Weinberg Community Library now contains a modern open library, suitable for both personal and academic study, with free WiFi facilities, and a selection of books for sale.

You can view our online catalogue here.

In 2023, with the generous support of the Phillips family, the Michael & Ruth Phillips Rare Books Room opened, housing some of the oldest and most valuable items in our collection.

Visits to the library are by appointment only. To book your visit, please contact Sam Reuben (samantha.reuben@lsjs.ac.uk)  

The library is a great place to research and study. Whether you are preparing for a shiur, pursuing research, looking up a Dvar Torah or just browsing, our library offers you a perfect and peaceful environment to find what you are looking for.