# National Library of Wales

> Welsh archive and research library

**Wikidata**: [Q666063](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q666063)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Library_of_Wales)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/national-library-of-wales

## Summary
The National Library of Wales (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru) is a Welsh archive and research library founded in 1907, serving as a key cultural and academic institution in Wales. It houses significant historical manuscripts, including the 12th-century *Book of Llandaff*, and operates as a major repository of Welsh heritage, knowledge, and research materials.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1907 as a national institution for Wales.
- Operates under the aliases **NLW** and **Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru**.
- Holds the **Book of Llandaff**, a 12th-century manuscript (created c. 1120).
- Employs between **202 and 255 staff members** (varies by year).
- Annual revenue fluctuates, with reported figures including **£12.255M, £14.334M, £19.94M, £15.937M, £14.537M, £18.776M, £17.43M, £21.049M, and £22.33M**.
- Official websites: [https://www.library.wales/](https://www.library.wales/) (English) and [https://www.llyfrgell.cymru/](https://www.llyfrgell.cymru/) (Welsh).
- Geographical coordinates:
  - **Primary location**: 52.414384° N, -4.068469° W (Aberystwyth).
  - **Secondary location**: 51.803436° N, -4.968522° W.
- Wikidata sitelink count: **33** (indicating broad digital presence).
- Wikipedia title: *National Library of Wales*.

## FAQs

**When was the National Library of Wales founded?**
The National Library of Wales was established in **1907** as a dedicated institution for preserving Welsh heritage and research materials.

**What is the Book of Llandaff, and how is it connected to the library?**
The *Book of Llandaff* is a **12th-century manuscript** (c. 1120) held by the library, serving as a critical historical document for Welsh ecclesiastical and legal history.

**How many people work at the National Library of Wales?**
Employment figures vary yearly, with recorded staff counts including **202, 223, 239, 244, and 255 employees** across different periods.

**What are the library’s official websites?**
The library maintains two official sites:
- English: [https://www.library.wales/](https://www.library.wales/)
- Welsh: [https://www.llyfrgell.cymru/](https://www.llyfrgell.cymru/)

**Where is the National Library of Wales located?**
The primary location is in **Aberystwyth** (coordinates: 52.414384° N, -4.068469° W), with a secondary site at 51.803436° N, -4.968522° W.

## Why It Matters
The National Library of Wales plays a pivotal role in safeguarding Wales’ cultural, historical, and linguistic heritage. As a **research library and archive**, it provides access to rare manuscripts like the *Book of Llandaff*, enabling scholars, historians, and the public to study Wales’ past. Its dual-language digital presence (English and Welsh) ensures accessibility, while its **fluctuating revenue and staffing** reflect its evolving role in modern Wales. By preserving and digitizing materials, the library bridges traditional scholarship with contemporary research needs, making it indispensable for Welsh identity and academia.

## Notable For
- Housing the **12th-century *Book of Llandaff***, a foundational Welsh manuscript.
- Operating as **Wales’ premier research library and archive** since 1907.
- Maintaining **bilingual digital platforms** (English and Welsh) for global access.
- Employing a **dedicated workforce of 200+ staff** to manage collections and services.
- Generating **annual revenues exceeding £12M**, supporting its mission.
- Holding **33 Wikidata sitelinks**, indicating its broad recognition in digital knowledge bases.

## Body

### **History and Founding**
The National Library of Wales was established in **1907** as a national institution to collect, preserve, and provide access to materials related to Welsh culture, history, and language. Its creation marked a significant step in formalizing Wales’ intellectual and heritage infrastructure, distinct from broader UK institutions.

### **Key Holdings and Collections**
The library is renowned for its **historical manuscripts**, most notably the **Book of Llandaff**, a **12th-century ecclesiastical text** (c. 1120) that documents early Welsh church history and land grants. This manuscript is one of the library’s most prized artifacts, attracting researchers in medieval studies and Welsh history.

### **Operational Scope**
- **Staffing**: The library employs between **202 and 255 people**, with fluctuations reflecting organizational changes and funding.
- **Revenue**: Financial records show varied annual incomes, including peaks at **£22.33M** and **£21.049M**, demonstrating its role as a well-funded cultural institution.
- **Digital Presence**: The library maintains two official websites:
  - [https://www.library.wales/](https://www.library.wales/) (English)
  - [https://www.llyfrgell.cymru/](https://www.llyfrgell.cymru/) (Welsh)
  These platforms ensure accessibility for both Welsh-speaking and international audiences.

### **Geographical Locations**
The library operates from two key coordinates:
1. **Primary Site (Aberystwyth)**: 52.414384° N, -4.068469° W — the main hub for research and public access.
2. **Secondary Site**: 51.803436° N, -4.968522° W — likely a storage or auxiliary facility.

### **Digital and Academic Recognition**
With **33 Wikidata sitelinks**, the National Library of Wales is widely referenced across global knowledge bases, underscoring its importance in digital humanities and open-access research. Its Wikipedia entry (*National Library of Wales*) further cements its status as a cornerstone of Welsh institutional identity.

### **Cultural and Academic Impact**
Beyond preservation, the library actively contributes to **Welsh-language revitalization**, **historical research**, and **public education**. By digitizing collections and offering bilingual resources, it ensures that Wales’ heritage remains accessible to future generations, both locally and globally. Its role in housing rare manuscripts like the *Book of Llandaff* also positions it as a critical site for medieval scholarship.

## References

1. Open ISNI for Organizations
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Japan Search
4. OCLC, Inc.
5. BnF authorities
6. CiNii Research
7. [Source](https://www.cerl.org/membership/list_members)
8. [Source](http://www.sconul.ac.uk/members-and-representatives)
9. [Source](http://www.dpconline.org/members/list-of-members)
10. [Source](https://www.wdl.org/en/partners/)
11. [Source](http://iiif.io/community/consortium/)
12. [Source](https://iiif.io/community/consortium/members/)
13. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20230803111744/https://cdn.ifla.org/wp-content/uploads/ifla-members-and-association-affiliates_2023-07-21.pdf)
14. [Source](https://glamlabs.io/list-members/)
15. [Source](https://fiatifta.org/membership/members/)
16. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
17. [Source](http://www.bl.uk/bibliographic/pdfs/isil-directory.pdf)
18. [Source](https://www.archivesportaleurope.net/directory/-/dir/ai/code/GB-210)
19. Charity Commission Register of Charities
20. [Open GLAM Survey, version of 31 October 2019](https://archive.org/details/OpenGLAM_Survey_20191031)
21. [Open GLAM Survey, version of 30 April 2020](https://archive.org/details/OpenGLAM_Survey_20200430)
22. [Open GLAM Survey, version of 3 August 2021](https://archive.org/details/OpenGLAM_Survey_20210803)
23. [Open GLAM Survey, version of 17 February 2022](https://archive.org/details/OpenGLAM_Survey_20220217)
24. [Source](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WPS-KJptUJ-o8SXtg00llcxq0IKJu8eO6Ege_GrLaNc)
25. [Open GLAM Survey, version of 27 June 2023](https://archive.org/details/open-glam-survey-backup-20230627)
26. [Open GLAM Survey, version of 16 May 2024](https://archive.org/details/open-glam-survey-backup-20240516)
27. GRID Release 2016-05-31
28. [Source](https://snaccooperative.org/)
29. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
30. [Open GLAM Survey](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WPS-KJptUJ-o8SXtg00llcxq0IKJu8eO6Ege_GrLaNc)
31. [Price One Penny](http://www.priceonepenny.info/database/view_libraries.php)
32. YouTube API
33. [Source](http://data.advn.be/id)