Glasgow Women's Library

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Glasgow Women's Library is a public library, registered company and charity based at 81 Parnie Street, Glasgow, Scotland. Glasgow Women's Library is a provider of information by and about women.

Its key aims are:

-To provide an information resource, run on feminist principles, relevant to all areas of women's lives, history, culture and achievements for use by women and groups from all areas of the community.

-To provide and promote lifelong learning, training, education, skill-sharing, volunteering, and employment opportunities for women.

As well as providing adult learning opportunities, Glasgow Women's Library is a resource for research, which is being improved with the 'Putting Women on the Map' Project, which aims to scope the breadth and depth of information/collections relating to women's lives, history and culture across Scotland. The result of this will be a virtual map of information and materials on women: in academic collections, libraries, museums, archives, community resources and those held by individual women

Glasgow Women's Library also provides many clubs and services and dedicated projects for its users, including:

-A Lifelong Learning Programme, with a range of events, courses and workshops.

-An Adult Literacy and Numeracy Project - support with reading, writing and numbers.

-A Black and Minority Ethnic Women’s Project, providing learning opportunities in a safe environment.

-The ‘Women in Scotland Database' , with information on all women’s organisations in Scotland - an essential networking and consultation tool.

-A large collection of materials comprising a lending library, archives, historical and contemporary artefacts relating to women’s lives, history and achievements.

The Women's Library was established in 1991. It evolved from the 'Women in Profile' project, whose aim was to ensure the visibility of women in the programming of Glasgow, European City of Culture year. The library now employs five members of staff, including Adele Patrick (one of the founders), the Lifelong Learning Coordinator, and Sue John, Strategic Development Manager. Glasgow Women's Library also works with sessional workers for the classes it runs, as well as more than twenty volunteers. After 16 years of gathering materials and delivering services to women, Glasgow Women's Library is now working towards its 2009 relocation to the Mitchell Library in Glasgow's West End. When funding is secured, work will begin on the purpose built space which will include archive and exhibition spaces. In 2009, Glasgow Women's Library will re-open its doors to the public, ready to embrace its new community and continue to provide services for its existing users.

[edit] Timeline

Some significant landmarks in the Library's history include:

1991 Library's first base on Hill Street, Garnethill, Glasgow opens. No paid staff.

1993 Library launches its first publication, Women, HIV/AIDS: a bibliography, edited by Rosie Ilett (shortlisted for a Library Association award in 1994).

1994 Due to increase in collection and users, the Library relocatesd to large, city-centre premises at 109 Trongate (4th and 5th floors).Incorporates as a Company.Begins volunteer training programme.

1995 First funding for a Library wage (a part-time salary shared by three workers!). The London-based Lesbian Archive and Information Centre (LAIC) relocates to the GWL's 5th floor. The Library celebrates its 500th member.

1996 Monthly free lawyer's surgeries begin (ongoing). First GWL banner and first monthly GWL Newsletter (ongoing).

1997 GWL honoured at a Glasgow City Council Civic Reception for GWL's the Women at Work database.

1998 1000th GWL member.

1999 Comic Relief fund the GWL LIPS project, two workers employed. GWL embarks on research and publishes a report for Glasgow City Council on 'Poverty and Social Exclusion of Lesbians and Gay Men.'

2000 GWL awarded charitable status.

2001 A motion in the new Scottish Parliament congratulates GWL on its work.

2002 Glasgow City Council funds a Lifelong Learning Co-ordinator post at GWL.

2003 Glasgow Community Learning Strategy Partnership funsd an Adult Literacy and Numeracy Development Worker post at GWL. GWL acquires a third floor (1st floor at 109 Trongate). A cohort of sessional tutors are trained and employed and two staff join the team to provide outreach support to lesbians over 25. GWL establishes a Women's Community Garden.

2004 Scottish Arts Council fund GWL's first Writer in Residence.

2005 Learning Connections funding allows ALN Learners to publish a book of their writing, launched in May 2005. Offer of new location within the Mitchell Library. (Relaunch in 2009) Website re-launched. The Library's first Librarian, Wendy Kirk, is appointed. First large scale documentation project launched supported by Scottish Community Fund and Awards for All (ongoing)

2006 GWL moves to temporary premises at 81 Parnie Street and continues to provide its essential services and projects, although its vast collection is in storage awaiting the Mitchell Library relocation in 2009.