Shaped like an inverted "L", the sustainably built, copper-clad Peckham Library won the prestigious Stirling Prize for Architecture in 2000 - and remains the only building of its kind ever to have done so. Suspended on a cantilevered plane, away from the hustle and bustle of street-level Peckham, the reading space here is naturally bright and delightfully quiet. If you're looking for work by black authors, there's a great selection here.

Reopening: mid-July, date TBC

Established in 1841 by Thomas Carlyle, a historian and essayist who was dissatisfied with the policies at the British Museum, The London Library now ranks among the world's leading literary institutions, with more than a million books and periodicals spanning 27km of open-access shelf space - oh, and it appeared in Killing Eve too. Any given stack could take you from the scrawlings of Virginia Woolf to Kazuo Ishiguro and T. S. Eliot, a former president of the library. Membership is open to all, but for a fee, giving the space a more exclusive feel (Bill Bryson has reportedly signed up). Free tours occur twice monthly.

Re-opening: 6 July

With an estimated 200 million items, this is the world's largest library by the number of items catalogued - a copy of every single book published in the UK and Ireland is deposited here (that's around 8,000 per day, FYI), among reams of other ephemera, including Jane Austen's manuscripts, Beatles lyrics and historical items dating as far back as 2000 BCE. Drop by to visit public areas (note: the six-storey glass tower is especially photogenic) and cafés or sign up for a free reader pass to access the collections.

Reopening: 22 July

"I never stop learning" is the motto here. Crowned by a beautiful glass dome, this indie institute is a go-to for its cultural events, though we love it most for the historic library which has been expanding since the place opened to the public in 1895. The catalogue stands out for its focus on London's radical, feminist and gay history. Expect to find the Lesbian and Gay Newsmedia Archive, photographic and audio materials as well as collections of paraphernalia including banners, badges, club flyers and condoms. No appointment is needed; simply arrive, register and search. For more on London's social and political history, visit the Guildhall Library, a 15-minute walk away on Aldermanbury.

Reopening: TBC

Overlooking the John Madejski Garden, these gilded reading rooms are a fitting home for the UK's most comprehensive public reference collection of literature on the decorative arts. This is the place for researching fashion and textiles, browsing comics or perhaps getting a little inspiration for your next DIY project - and best of all the museum's vast collections and exhibitions (and the V&A café) are within mere steps. You'll need to be a member of the library to access its works, but joining is free and open to all.

Reopening: Expected January 2021, roof restoration in progress.

Surrounded by Bethnal Green Gardens, within a few minutes' walk of Bethnal Green Underground Station, this Grade II-listed library is almost a century old, having first opened its doors in 1922. A recent revamp has made it an especially friendly, light-filled space for remote-worker types who pitch up with a laptop, but it retains much of that stately Edwardian wood panelling that makes visiting here feel like stumbling into a different era.

Reopening: 6 July

Among the world's most important libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, this brutalist library is all sharp angles, stark lighting and shelves upon shelves of books - somewhere around 1.3 million tomes, to be exact. Like this? The University of London's Senate House Library is a three-minute walk away and open to the public for day tickets and summertime memberships - make a beeline for one of its brown Chesterfields.

Reopening: 6 July

Part library, part museum, the Wellcome Collection's library has one of the world's best health and medical history catalogues, though its sections spill over into topics including travel, food, gender and witchcraft. Expect to perform digital autopsies and cast your eye over graphic novels or the replica of an alchemical scroll. Membership is free to all, and day passes are available on a first-come-first-serve basis - you'll find us nesting on a sofa in the homely Reading Room. There's usually a great calendar of workshops, performances and exhibitions throughout the rest of the Wellcome Collection too.

Reopening: TBC. Many resources are available online.

Built in 1851, this Grade II-listed, neo-gothic library was the Public Record Office HQ - "the strong-box of the Empire" - until it was acquired by King's College London in 2001. Now an extension of the university's Strand Campus, its humanities-focused collection tumbles over four floors, though the main draw here is the dodecagonal reading room which made an appearance in The Da Vinci Code. Access is normally restricted to students, but it's worth keeping your eye out for open days and tours.

Reopening: TBC

Like a showreel of the history of cinema and the moving image in Britain and beyond, the BFI is a must for fans of the silver screen. Books and journals are aplenty here, though it's the dedicated viewing stations that we love the most - find a screen and deep dive into its back catalogue of multimedia materials. Visiting is available to all, free of charge - but if you have something in mind, check in advance as some materials are kept off-site and need to be requested. Afterwards, stretch out your legs along the South Bank - Borough Market is a pleasant 20-minute stroll away.

Reopening: TBC

Built on the site of The Abbey, a grand old house destroyed during the blitz, this library's bold, unfussy design caused a stir when it opened in the 60s - though for us, that's part of the charm. It was dreamed up by architect E Vincent Harris, the same guy that created the bold and beautiful Manchester Central Library. Expect to browse shelves backdropped by dark-wood panels and soaring striped pillars.

Reopening: 6 July

Shaped like an inverted pyramid, this library's building alone is reason enough to visit. Among the newer landmarks on London's literary scene, it doubles up as a design icon thanks to the dab hand of architect Piers Gough. Peering over the water's edge, a perforated aluminium facade gives way to zigzag shelves and a spiral staircase - nab a seat on the airy mezzanine if possible. The vibe here is fresh and welcoming thanks to a roster of community events that reflect the diverse Southwark borough. No need to register here, though only Southwark residents will be able to take books out. When you've done perusing the shelves, check out what's on at The Albany theatre that shares the building.

Reopening: mid-July, date TBC

Designed by Sir Basil Spence (also responsible for Coventry Cathedral and the Beehive in New Zealand), this modernist library is a must-visit for brutalism buffs - though the spiralling, 60s-style, symmetrical staircases could be taken straight out of a Wes Anderson film. When you've done leafing through the tomes on display, the complex also houses an exhibition gallery and sports centre kitted out with a climbing wall.

Reopening: July, TBC