 The Library became more important during the 18th century ; prior to that it had been a small , little @-@ used collection of books . In 1725 it was proposed by the Pension that " a publick Library be sett up and kept open for ye use of ye society " , and that more books be purchased . The first order of new books was on 27 June 1729 and consisted of " a collection of Lord Bacon 's works " . In 1750 the Under @-@ Steward of the Inn made a new catalogue of the books , and in 1789 the Library was moved to a new room between the Hall and the Chapel . In 1840 another two rooms were erected in which to store books , and in 1883 a new Library was constructed with space to store approximately 11 @,@ 000 books . This was rapidly found to be inadequate , and in 1929 a new Library , known as the Holker Library after the benefactor , Sir John Holker , was opened . The library , although impressive looking , was not particularly useful ; Francis Cowper wrote that : 
