 The building did not last very long — damage to the Inn during the Blitz completely destroyed the Library and a large part of its collection , although the rare manuscripts , which had been moved elsewhere , survived . After the destruction of much of the Inn 's collection , George VI donated replacements for many lost texts . A prefabricated building in the Walks was used to hold the surviving books while a new Library was constructed , and the new building ( designed by Sir Edward Maufe ) was opened in 1958 . It is similar in size to the old Holker Library , but is more workmanlike and designed to allow for easy access to the books . 
