Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

14 articles on this Page

Advertising

ONE TAKEN: TWO LEFT.

44 MOST MEAN THEFT."

Gipsy Camp Flooded.

.. The Dumfries Bye-Election.

" OLD MILES."

CAERSWS.

GLEANINGS FROM A GREAT SPEECH.

Cambrian Company as a Camel-

" Tegid" on " The Trade."…

[No title]

WELSH NATIONAL LIBRARY.

News
Cite
Share

WELSH NATIONAL LIBRARY. An Appeal for Funds and Books. Interesting Information. Sir John Williams, president of the National Library of Wales, has issued the following appeal,, and any communications that Express readers may desire to make thereon may be addressed to him at the National Library, Aberystwyth: 'Speaking from the presidential chair of the National Eisteddfod at the Albert Hall, London, on June 16th, the Prime Minister, referring to the National Library of Wales, said: "That the National Library of Wales, will, I trust, become' the centre, the home, the gathering, and the training ground of Celtic scholarship in this- country in the years that are bsfo-e us. It already possesses, either actually, or in promise, some of the most valuable manuscripts and books which it is possible to accumulate tor those who desire to explore the antiquities of Celtic literature and Celtic history." The Prime Minister went on to point out that it was A PATRIOTIC DUTY to assist the National Library and the National Museum by adding to the treasures, of which these great national institutions are to be the storehouse." The National Library of Wales was founded by Royal Charter granted by H.M. the King in 1907.. and entered upon the first stage of its existence on January 1st of the present year in a temporary building at Aberystwyth, a building admirably adapted for the storing and cataloguing of the collections pending the removal of the permanent building, which will be erected on a magnificent site of four acres, close to the town of Aberyst- wyth, generously given for the purpose by Lord Rendel. A large number of valuable gifts of books,. manuscripts, prints, and drawings has already been made to form the nucleus of the library, which, at this moment, contains the finest col- lection of Welsh MSS. in existence, including the famous Ilengrwrt and Peniarth MSS.: the, collection of MSS. and early Welsh books made Moses Williams, afterwards the property of the Earls of Macclesfield; and a number of MSS. derived from olhor collections. The Hengwrt Library includes not only the oldest texts of romance literature, but also one of the most valuablee MSS. of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and other MSS. of great importance. The num- ber of printed books already in the library is NEARLY 50,000. We need, however, very many books in Celtic literature, and, even more, works of general refer- ence, standard books in English and other languages, sets cf transactions of literary, his- torical. and scientific societies, sets of the great periodicals, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, and many other books of various kinds which we have no funds to acquire. The charter provides for the circulation of duplicate books for educational and research pur- poses, and this will be an important feature of the work of the library. The case of Wales is exceptional. Its University consists of three national colleges, situated at Aberystwyth, Bangor, and Cardiff, while there are other im- portant centres of educational activity, all urgently in need of the aid which it is hoped the National Library will be able to give to the higher branches of study. I wish particularly to state that while the Celtic side of the library must be its strongest feature, yet the object for which it was founded is much wider. It is to be a NATIONAL LIBRARY IN THE BEST SENSE, designed to afford in Wales that encouragement for study and research hitherto wanting, and the lack of which has placed Wales at a disadvantage as compared with the other divisions of the United Kingdom, and with other countries. England, Scotland, and Ireland enjoy great privileges under the Copyright Act, which Wales has not received, and can hardly now expect to receive. Three libraries in England, and one each in Scotland and Ireland are entitled to one free copy of every book published in the British Islands, while five or, six other libraries which, formerly had the same privilege now receive an annual grant from the public funds in lieu of it. It is contemplated to proceed as soon as circum- stances will permit with the erection of perman- ent buibdings, and plans have be-n provisionally adopted. A sum of X21,000 has been subscribed towards the building fund. To erect a suitable and worthy building will cost a far larger sum. The contributors to the fund include residents in all parts of Wales and Monmouthshire, and many residing in London and elsewhere, including Welshmen abroad. The fund is a truly nat onal one, and is made up of sums ranging FROM £ 5,000 TO THREEPENCE. The quarrymen of Festiniog and neighbourhood, for instance, made up a list of 744 names for a contribution of X70 ISs, while the teachers of Cardiganshire agreed to make up J2100. In Car- marthen, Swansea, Cardigan, Aberayron, and, other centres, large and small committees were formed to collect subscriptions. The contributors to the fund fully represent the Welsh people, and their enthusiasm for the National Library is clearly shown. The library has also received gifts from kindred institutions. The British Museum, the Library of Congress at Washington, the Smithsonian lia- stitution, the Corporation of London, the John Rylands Library, Manchester, the National Library of Ireland, and the principal public libraries have each sent sets of their publicationp, while the University of Oxford has made a grant of publications of the Clarendon Press. Several eminent scholars at home and abroad have also sent gifts of books, in many cases spontaneously, and with a graciousness which greatly enhances THE VALUE OF THEIR GIFTS. The library is managed by a Court of Gov- ernors and a Council, to which bodies members are nominated by H.M. Privy Council, by the County and Borough Councils of Wales and Mon- I mouthshire, the University of Wales, and the three University Colleges. The maintenance is provided by a grant in aid from H.M. Treasury, which at present only provides for bare working expenses. No sum for purchasing the large num- ber of necessary books is at present available. I venture to ask those of your readers who feel an interest in this effort to bring within the reach of the residant3 in Wales the advantages which a National Library offers, to make gifts of books or money for the book fund, and donations to the Building Fund.

Ex-Newtown Pastor.

Sought for years in Newtown.