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Libraries

Libraries play a central role in our communities, and contribute to our social, educational, cultural and economic wellbeing.

Wales has a network of public, educational and specialist libraries providing access to a wide range of resources. There are:

  • over 320 public library service points open 10 hours a week or more;
  • over 110 Higher Education and Further Education libraries and learning resources centres; and
  • the National Library of Wales, one of 6 Legal Deposit libraries in Great Britain and Ireland.

Libraries in Wales:

  • are open to all members of their communities and are free to join
  • lend books for free
  • deliver free access to information
  • provide free use of the Internet and computers, and to online information resources 24 hours a day
  • provide access to high quality resources in a range of formats, including those in the Welsh language.

Public library services are regulated by the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964. This requires local authorities to provide comprehensive and efficient library services. The Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage supervises the library services provided by local authorities.

Library Wales

Library Wales (external link) is your library's home on the web. The website gives you access to all the resources and services that you'd expect from your local library in one electronic environment. You can:

  • ask questions to trained library staff
  • find out what's going on in your library
  • read newspapers and other reference material at no cost to you (registration required)

Libraries Inspire

Libraries Inspire: the strategic development framework for Welsh libraries 2012-16 outlines our priorities for libraries in Wales. You can find out more by clicking on the link in the left hand menu.

Welsh Public Library Standards

The aims of the Welsh Public Library Standards are to raise the quality and standard of public library services for the people of Wales. We are now in our fourth three-year Welsh Public Library Standards and Assessment framework programme (2011-14). Click on ‘Welsh Public Library Standards’ in the left hand menu for more information.