The city’s first library opened in St Helen’s Road in 1875 and our team now needs you to share your favourite library and reading memories to help mark the latest chapter in this never-ending story.
Elliott King, Cabinet Member for Culture and Equalities, said: “In the early days of Swansea libraries, it was a contribution of social significance if you donated books to your local library.
“Today we’re hoping our residents and local celebrities will give us their library memories instead.
“The memories we’re hoping to hear about could be anything from your first recollection of visiting a library, your favourite first book, a moment from a book that changed your life – or even the most recent book you’ve read and why. These are just a few ideas and you’re bound to have your own.
“If you want to make a quick contribution, please just drop us an email libraryline@swansea.gov.uk
And if you want to know more about 150 years of Swansea Libraries, odd facts and quirky tales about the contribution they’ve made to the life and culture of our communities, head over to the Central Library from May 6th and check out the exhibition.
Cllr King said: “We’ve got a thriving libraries’ service at the heart of our communities right across Swansea. These days we do, of course, offer many more services than opportunities to borrow and read books.
“Our libraries are much-loved community hubs. They’re hives of activity with access to everything from recycling bags to the complete works of Shakespeare and the latest online news.
“We’re a meeting place as well, with events going on almost every week in almost all of our 17 libraries. We also help host other informal council services like our Local Area Co-ordinators.
“If a resident wants to research something and isn’t sure about where to start, their local librarian can often be a first port of call.
“But some things haven’t changed. You can see from the history of Swansea libraries that, from the very beginning, libraries were a status symbol that highlight to others just how important education and reading is across all communities, helping to create cultural cohesion.”
