National Library of Wales Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru

History and Founding

The National Library of Wales (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru) was established by Royal Charter on 19 March 1907, alongside the National Museum of Wales. Discussions about a national library for Wales began in earnest in 1873, when a committee was formed to collect and house Welsh historical material. A pivotal moment came when Sir John Williams, physician and book collector, pledged his manuscript collection — including the Peniarth manuscripts — to the library if it were sited in Aberystwyth, and donated £20,000 toward its construction. Aberystwyth was chosen over Cardiff, and the library opened in temporary premises in 1907 before moving to its permanent hilltop building, designed by Sidney Greenslade, which was first occupied in 1916. The library is a Welsh Government Sponsored Body and a registered charity.

Collections and Holdings

The National Library holds one of the great collections of the world, comprising over 8 million books and periodicals, with approximately 4,000 new items arriving weekly through legal deposit and acquisition. As a legal deposit library, it has the right to a copy of every publication printed in Britain and Ireland. Holdings include rare books and manuscripts (among them some of the most important Welsh manuscripts in the world), archives, film and video, newspapers, maps, sound materials, photographs, and works of art. The National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales is housed at the Library. Digital resources include Welsh Journals Online, Welsh Newspapers Online, and extensive digitized manuscript collections.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

The Library holds significant journalism-related collections, including the archives of BBC Wales — one of the most substantial — which contain radio drama scripts, talks, and production records dating back to the organization's origins in Wales. The Welsh Journals Online project has digitized over 450 Welsh journals from 1735 to 2006, including academic, scientific, and literary publications. The Library's newspapers archive contains over 100,000 Welsh newspapers dating back to the 17th century. The BBC National Broadcast Archive project has digitized BBC Wales radio and television material dating from 1923 onward, accessible at the Library and at regional centers.

Access and Usage

The Library's reading rooms are open to holders of a free Reader's Ticket Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 18:00 and Saturday from 9:30 to 17:00. A wide range of digitized materials is accessible online at no charge. The Library offers a free enquiries service and hosts exhibitions, events, and educational programs for the public.