Public libraries in Cardiff are owned and operated by Cardiff Council. There are 20 public libraries in the capital of Wales, the largest of which is Cardiff Central Library. A mobile library service is also provided. In 2018/19, there were almost 91,000 Cardiff residents, around 25% of the city's population, who borrowed an item from a municipal library. Increases in visits, active borrowers and library members have taken place during 18/19 as the service continues to grow in popularity with Cardiff's citizens.
There are 280 computers in libraries in Cardiff due to the £70,000 of capital funding that was provided to replace and upgrade these facilities. Internet access is offered free of charge at every branch. Cultural events are regularly held at city library branches.
The first city library opened in central Cardiff in 1861, followed by the city's first branch library in Splott in 1894. The latest building to serve as Central Library opened in 2009 as part of a major reconstruction of the eastern city centre, including the St. David's 2 project.
Cathays, Canton and Whitchurch Libraries are Carnegie Libraries, built with money donated by Scottish businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
History
Cardiff Free Library (1861 to 1882)
In 1861, a free library was set up by voluntary subscription above the St Mary Street entrance to the Royal Arcade in Cardiff. By 1862, the Public Libraries Act of 1855 allowed local councils with 5,000 inhabitants or more to raise a rate of one penny in the pound to provide a public library. Cardiff was the first town in Wales to establish a public library.
Two years later in 1864, the library had moved to bigger premises in the now demolished YMCA building, in St Mary Street. A School of Science and Art and a small museum was also added, and so it became known as the Cardiff Free Library, Museum and Schools for Science and Art.
Old Library (1882 to 1988)
The Old Library is located at the northern end of The Hayes. Declared a public holiday , it was opened on 31 May 1882 by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Alfred Thomas as the Cardiff Free Library, Museum and Schools for Science and Art, which included an art gallery. A competition was held to choose a design for the Cardiff Free Library, Museum and Schools for Science and Art. The winning design was by architects James, Seward and Thomas, erected for just over £9,000. The Schools of Science and Art were housed in the building until 1890 when it moved to buildings that were part of the University College.
St David's Link (1988 to 2006) The Central Library was moved to a new building located on St David's Link (Frederick Street). The building was officially opened on 3 December 1988, and occupied the upper storeys of the commercial complex, which were accessed via a polygonal vestibule at street level.
The building was demolished in late 2006 together with the surrounding retail units to make way for the extension to St. David's Centre.
Temporary building (2006 to 2009) During the construction of the new building, library services were moved to temporary facilities on John Street which were officially opened on 1 September 2006. Consisting of two separate buildings adjoining the Welsh National Opera, the front overlooking Bute Street, featured tall hoardings illustrating the spines of a number of books identified as those most commonly borrowed from the library.
Overview
Usage
Cardiff Central is the most used library in Cardiff. Penylan is the most used branch library in the city, whereas Rumney is the least used, according to 2018-19 usage statistics.
The city's 20 branch libraries and mobile library were visited more than 2.6 million times (3.4 including virtual visits) in 2018/19 and almost 1.4 million items were borrowed. In 2018/19 Cardiff had more than 9,400 visits to the library per 1,000 of the population. Cardiff Central Library received 638,189 visits in 2018/19, with 380,213 items borrowed.
Catalogue
Across Cardiff libraries, crime and romance are the most popular books, with James Patterson, Danielle Steel and Alexander McCall Smith among the most borrowed. More than half of the most borrowed books are aimed at youngsters. Cardiff-born Roald Dahl, Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson, Jacqueline Wilson, Terry Deary, creator of the Horrid History series, and Enid Blyton are among those most likely to be borrowed by children and young teenagers.
The city's libraries have an important catalogue, with more than 1.6 million items in 2018/19, including 823,168 adult fiction books, 525,810 children's fiction books and 18,207 audio-visual items.