[2] The 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 Since 1957 the PLA has published a quarterly journal, originally called P.L.A.
Quarterly but quickly renamed to The Private Library in 1958.
Since Spring 1968, the journal has appeared in a standard format of some 40-50 pages containing two or three illustrated articles.
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, illustrators and publishers, famous books and the history of printing, bookplates and bookbinding, bookselling, etc..
Details of the books and the Private Library can be found on the association's website.