Federation Of Family History Societies

National Library of Wales to Reduce Opening Hours

As a result of increasing financial pressures, the Board of The National Library of Wales < www.llgc.org.uk > has decided to close the building to the public on Saturdays from 1 April 2009.

This unfortunate but necessary decision is part of a package of measures which the Library has been forced to put together in order to save £250,000 in the next financial year.

The Library Board was forced to take this unfortunate decision due to the steady decrease in the value of its budgets over recent years and the further cuts anticipated over the next few years.

The implications of this for the public will be not only losing the service of the reading rooms but also access to the exhibitions, restaurant, shop which form a popular tourist and conference destination for people from all over Wales and beyond.

Andrew Green, Librarian of The National Library of Wales said:
“This was a very difficult decision to make, but necessary to maintain the other services the Library offers.”

Dafydd Wigley, President of The National Library of Wales said:
“The Library has been put in an impossible situation and the people of Wales are the ones that are going to suffer, losing the services of one of its most important institutions on the only day of the week on which many can visit.”

The National Library of Wales is sponsored by CyMAL (Museums, Archives and Libraries Wales) on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Maggie Loughran
Joint Administrator, Federation of Family History Societies