As the national legal deposit of Wales, today the library has the right to claim a copy of any book, map, magazine or newspaper published in Britain and Ireland. As a result, the building now houses over six million texts, as well as many thousands of maps, manuscripts and artworks, plus hundreds of hours of archival video footage and sound recordings.
Visitors can request material from the library’s collection online and then consult it in the dedicated Reading Room, which is open Monday to Saturday and free to visit (following online registration). The spacious, stately, high-ceilinged space contains a number of desks spread around a central information desk, and makes for an atmospheric place to study or work.
Other attractions at the library include a gallery and exhibition rooms, one of which displays a revolving collection of some of the library’s most treasured items. There’s also the Pen Dinas Café, serving soups, sandwiches and homemade cakes, a library shop, and a small play area for children on site.
Additionally, the library regularly hosts events, from discussions on Dylan Thomas to concerts by male voice choirs. These are typically held in the on-site, 100-seat auditorium.
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