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Description
The 'Aberystwyth Official Guide and Souvenir' published by Aberystwyth Corporation in 1924 provides a description of the National Library not long after it had been completed. A large proportion of the collection of Welsh printed books and manuscripts was given by Sir John Williams, Bart. GCVO, after the purchase of the Welsh portion of the Earl of Macclesfield's collection (Shirburn Castle, Oxfordshire), which together with the manuscripts of the Peniarth Library (Merioneth) and his own collection was presented to the library on 1 January 1909. Other well-known collections acquired by gift include Mostyn, Dingesow Court, Panton, Gwallter Mechain, Kinmel and Llanover Manuscripts, Wynn-Gwydir, Panton and Williams-Wynn papers. Included in these are The Black Book of Carmarthen, the oldest written in the Welsh language. The growth rate of the library was estimated to be around 35,000 items annually. The availability of a photostat machine to make facsimilie copies is noted as well as the exhibitions in the Exhibition Gallery. The name of the Librarian is given as John Ballinger CBE MA.
At the time of this photograph being taken, the National Library was undergoing extensive repairs to the roof and facades.
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