Access to the reading room and 2,000 books remain free of charge from 10am-8pm every first Wednesday of the month and access can be arranged at other times for a fee.
The library will also levy a small charge for retrieval of materials from the closed collections, for photography permits and for reprography.
St Bride’s, based in the City of London, closed its library along with its printing workshop in July in a cost-cutting drive, making two of its 10 staff redundant.
Chief executive at the time, Glynn Farrow said the move was necessary to preserve the long-term future of the charity.
The two former staff members are returning as volunteers to run the library and also to open up the print workshop on occasion.
A colleague said: “That’s how passionate they are about the place. That’s all we can offer at the moment. We’re ever hopeful and just need to find a nice big benefactor.”
Chairman of the charity’s board Peter Silver said: “The decision to suspend access was taken very reluctantly in the summer, and I know caused concern and distress to many who care a great deal about the collection.
“We have been working hard over the intervening months to enable the foundation to move forward and to create the conditions for a sustainable future for all of our educational activities, including the library.”??
Built up over 125 years, the holdings include both books and heritage objects which tell the story of Britain’s printing industry, including examples of printing techniques and typefaces which are not to be found elsewhere.
William Caxton, William Caslon, William Morris and Eric Gill are among the famous names in the world of print whose work is represented.
The charity is still in the process of finding a replacement for Farrow, who left due to medical reasons in December.
Meanwhile it has emerged that the fundraising campaign Foster-A-Book’ or the 125 Campaign, launched in November was shelved after Farrow left. Not surprisingly, it fell short of its target.
The campaign aimed to raise the £125,000 it needs to unlock Heritage Lottery Fund support for its plans to make its building fit for purpose for future generations.
Interim manager Helen Lowe, a consultant engaged alongside fellow consultant Danielle Nagler to manage the foundation temporarily, said until the leadership of St Bride’s was fixed, plans to go for HLF funds had been put on hold.
She said: "With the change of management there was nobody to promote it. Donors to the campaign have been contacted and their donations will be used according to their wishes. At some point the HLF application will come back in the frame."
The charity’s board is currently recruiting a general manager and is at the shortlist stage, with interviews expected next week.
Lowe and Nagler will remain until they are in situ, to ensure "a seamless handover", Lowe said.
“It’s been a bit in limbo but we’ve been working with the board to try and implement the vision,” she said.
