Would it work to mount picture lights on top of each bookcase? They could be combined with some plug-in swing arm lamps that extend out from the wall and/or floor lamps w/ their own tray tables.

http://www.lampsplus.com/products/s_plug-in-swing-arm/

http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/New-Traditions-Patina-Brass-Tray-Table-Floor-Lamp__H9083.html

Here is a link that might be useful: a variety of picture lights

If you want lights on top of the bookcases, which I think is a great look, check out piano lamps. They usually have two hinges on them, so you can adjust the light to hit where you want it. You can run the cords down behind the back of the bookcase.

If you don't want table lamps, try floor lamps. A swing-arm lamp lets a reader put the light exactly where it is best for reading.

I really think floor lamps would be perfect in your room. When I think "cozy English library" I think of a darker room with welcoming pools of light from floor lamps, with a chair and a side table just waiting for someone to sit down and read.

You might want to try something that I am considering for a dark dining room: Lay a fluorescent fixture on its back on top of a bookcase and have the cord come down the side of the bookcase. You will still need task lighting, but it should illuminate the room while taking up no floor space. You could leave it on for long periods without running up your electric bill.

In case you haven't already seen it a-plenty, here's ours...the room faces north, so it doesn't have much natural light, either.
We built around the windows and used can lights on a dimmer above each window seat.
We installed strip lighting behind the soffits to add glow and eliminate the deep shadows there.
We put two good swing-arm wall lamps for reading over the sofa, one small one for balance on the wall by the door to the hall, and two at the fireplace end, which I mounted directly to the inside of the shelf wall. The countertops had grommets in them at the back so that we could get to the plugs in the wall behind the lower cabinets. It was cheaper than moving the outlets up, and more flexible.
Then we used one table lamp on the round table and a picture light over the portrait. Using a variety of lights made it possible to control the mood in the room. Then we sold the house! I miss that room the most,,,
(Sorry about the huge photos, but I wanted the details of the lighting to show.)

You've gotten a lot of good advice for task lighting. You could also look into battery operated ambient lighting. You don't seem to have many outlets at your disposal.

They come in everything from sconces, art and led, that you could wind in your bookcases.

What great ideas! There are geniuses on the forum! Fluorescent lights laid on their backs! (Sounds of me smacking my head) Wow! I would love the ambient lighting that would create! And since I plan on having some art objects on the top, that would silhouette them as well. That reminds me: I have a roll of white rope lighting in the basement for a project that fell through. I wonder if that creates heat? I will have to find it and see how much light it puts out. The wall-mounted swing out lamps too. We have one in the room now: maybe IÂll get another. I will look into the piano lights too.

We actually do have plenty of outlets in the roomÂexcept that once the bookcases are in and loaded we wonÂt have easy access to any but one. ThatÂs why I have to plan this out in advance. We will have to put extension cords in each outlet and drape them over the top of the cases and make sure they donÂt fall back!

bronwynsmom, your library is very beautiful, and much like I would have liked to do in my room. But building soffits and installing hardwired lighting is not in our future. Your library has many wonderful features, maybe I can use something. I love the lighting inside the bookcases at the top and the overall feeling of the room. IÂll save it for an inspiration.

My original plan was much more ambitious. With 2 kids in college/med school next year, I have to do this project as inexpensively as possible. The bookcases alone were over $600. But after months of poring over CL and trolling resale shops and not finding enough (or in good enough condition), we had to buy new bookcases. Things like the chairs and tables will be coming from elsewhere is the house. I was originally going to customize the bookcases, but my husband nixed that idea. He wants to see a room actually finished within a reasonable time frame (what a strange conceptÂ) ! So I need to get the feeling of what I wanted in a simpler, less labor-intensive way.

Thanks for all the ideas!

You could notch out holes in the backs of the bookcases for access to the electrical outlets. Paint the outlet covers to match the bookcase.