Meg Dillon
‘An extraordinary and beautiful bookshop, with character.’ – Eli Gutnikova
There’s something so distinctive about an “old-fashioned” bookshop. A friendly, relaxed atmosphere, rather cluttered surroundings with ladders to reach high shelves, staff with a passion for books… if that’s what you imagine, then you will love visiting The Small Library Company Bookshop.
The bookshop on Chiswick Lane is the creation of Meg Dillon. It’s the perfect place to browse at leisure amongst a wonderfully eclectic range of second-hand books (all in good condition) and, with Christmas coming, to find one-off gifts for family and friends.
Having trained as a librarian and then worked in the City, Meg changed tack during lockdown. ‘I placed an ad in the Times Literary Supplement offering to help people “sort out” their private book collections,’ she recalls. ‘I was contacted by a gentleman who had inherited his stepfather’s library; he wanted to find a bookseller. I thought, I could do that. A week later 35 packed boxes arrived at my house, and that led me to start a business buying and selling books online.’
Then, in summer 2024, Meg was offered the opportunity through family connections to acquire books from the massive personal collection of Christopher Foyle, the late Chairman of the famous London bookshop. ‘I took 3000, and that meant I had to find a permanent bricks and mortar premises. My aim was to provide a welcoming space and, since we had so many interesting and unusual titles, I wanted people to be able to see them.’
The Small Library Company Bookshop stocks around 4000 books and specialises in Literary Classics, Art, History, Biography, Fiction and Philosophy. Meg still buys from collections, many of the books are on sale via the website and the shop is open on Thursdays and Fridays (1pm-6pm) and Saturdays (11am-5pm). Viewing appointments can be made outside hours.
The Small Library Company Bookshop
40 Chiswick Lane
Chiswick W4 2PR
07495 894939
info@thesmalllibrary.co.uk
https://www.thesmalllibrary.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/thesmalllibrary