Aber Info

Founded in 1907, the National Library of Wales is one of Britain's six copyright libraries, and is entitled to recieve a copy of every book published in the United Kingdom. The result is a vast collection of nearly four million books that has required the building, situated on Penglais Hill, to be extended a number of times to avoid running out of room!

Wales' largest library is where many of the most important Welsh publications are kept, and these include the first book to be printed in Welsh and The Black Book of Carmarthen. As well as books and other printed publications, there are over a million maps, along with photographs, paintings and sound and video recordings. Small wonder then that Aberystwyth has more books per person than any other place in the UK.

The National Library also has excellent exhibitions open to the public. There are permanent exhibitions which provide insights into Welsh heitage and culture plus a range of temporary exhibitions in the various exhibition spaces which include both touring exhibitions by Welsh artists and photographers and exhibitions of some of the Library's own collections.

The new "visitor experience" known as Drwm has further displays and a cinema and presentation area with regular events, and there is also the Pen Dinas restaurant to enjoy.

Exhibitions and events are shown in the NLW Events Programme (for heaven's sake bookmark it if you're interested - else you may never find it ever again hidden away in the Library's website!)

National Library of Wales, Penglais Hill. Open 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. Closed most bank holiday weekends and the first full week in October. Admission free.
Tel 01970 632800 (main) or 632837 (exhibitions)
www.llgc.org.uk