National Library of Wales

National Library of Wales (Welsh, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru), British copyright library and national library of Wales, established in 1907. It is located in a purpose-built, Neo-Classical building on Penglais Hill, Aberystwyth.

There were calls during the 18th century for the creation of a national library for Wales, and it was decided at the National Eisteddfod in 1873 that a collection of Welsh books and manuscripts should be stored at the new University College of Wales in Aberystwyth. Money was then set aside by the government in 1905 to create a national library and museum for Wales. There was some competition between Cardiff and Aberystwyth as to which should be the location for these institutions, and it was decided to establish the museum in Cardiff and the library in Aberystwyth.

The library was granted a Royal Charter in 1907 and opened in 1909, with Sir John Williams as its first president. He had gathered a collection of 25,000 books, which he donated to the institution. It became a deposit library in 1911.

The library’s collection now contains over 4 million items, including books, manuscripts and archives, periodicals, official publications, newspapers, maps, paintings, prints, photographs, films, videos, and sound recordings. Important holdings include William Salesbury’s Welsh translation of the New Testament (1567) and William Morgan’s Welsh translation of the Bible (1588); the Black Book of Carmarthen, which includes the earliest Welsh poetry Llyfr Taliesin; the Black Book of Chirk, a copy of the Welsh laws set down by the 10th century king Hywel Dda; and the Hengwrt Chaucer, an early manuscript of The Canterbury Tales.

Books, periodicals, and newspapers are available to readers in the North Reading Room; manuscripts, archives, rare books, maps, photographs, and microfilms are held in the South Reading Room; and sound and moving image materials are kept in the National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales viewing room. The library also holds exhibitions in its entrance hall and its Gregynog Gallery.

In 2001 the library received Heritage Lottery funding for its Visitor Experience project. This money has been used to build a new auditorium and an exhibition area to display some of its treasures.