Gladstone's Library

@gladlib.bsky.social

A unique residential library in North Wales with beautiful Reading Rooms, Food for Thought restaurant, accommodation and more. Read, write, rest! linktr.ee/gladlib

We are delighted to invite Edward Foster for a musical performance and illustration workshop at this year's Gladfest, taking place Saturday 29th August! 📖 🎨 Artist, author, musician and teacher Edward Foster is a visionary artist whose work is known and collected worldwide.

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A huge congratulations to Anthony Shapland from all of us at Gladstone's Library, for his Wales Book of the Year 2026 win! Anthony's novel, A Room Above A Shop, was the English Language overall winner. Congratulations / Llongyfarchiadau! 🎊

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📣 Gladstone's Library Scholarships: Last Chance for Applications!📣 The submission period for scholarships to be taken in 2027 closes at 11.45pm BST today (Monday 3rd August 2026). For details on the 23 scholarships available and how to apply go to our website -> Scholarships and Residencies.

A photo focuses on a hand holding a pen, sitting at a desk with a lamp and a pile of books. Around the desk are floor to ceiling bookcases.

We are thrilled to announce a new young writer’s competition as part of our Gladfest 2026 month-long festival! 💭 We are asking young people to write us a story about their favourite possession, and they could win some amazing prizes!

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We are delighted to invite Matson Taylor to speak at this year's Gladfest, taking place Saturday 29th August! 📖 🏛️ Matson Taylor grew up in Yorkshire but now lives in London. He is a design historian and academic-writing tutor and has worked at various universities and museums around the world.

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📢 Introducing our Gladfest Writing Competition! 📢 As part of our Gladfest 2026 month-long festival, we are championing new voices, emerging talent, and writers who are yet to be published. ✉️ Age: 18+ 💰️ Cost: £7 per entry 🧾 Length: up to 5000 words

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At the stunning Gladstone’s Library in North Wales, join us for a jam-packed day of talks, musical performances, drop-in workshops, activities and exhibitions, food and more! We bring together beloved voices, emerging talent and passionate readers for a day of stories and conversation.

A poster with headshots of Gladfest speakers Matson Taylor, Nikita Gill, Sheena Kalayil, Abdul-Azim Ahmed, Andrea Russell and Isobel Goodman.A poster detailing workshops, exhibitions and activities by Edward Foster, the Society of Bookbinders, and Gladstone's Library's Engagement programmeA poster showing this event includes a book shop and book signings, musical performance, pop up cafe, garden games, and meals from their on site restaurant.

📢 Book your tickets now for our Course: Beginning Biblical Greek with Very Reverend Professor Gordon Mcphate. 📖 Gordon will guide you through 12 sessions using texts from the Gospels and also from Genesis.

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📢 Book your tickets now for Writer in Residence 2026 Anthony Shapland's Masterclass: Gleaning: Writing Place and Plot 📢 ✍️ In this writing masterclass with Writer in Residence Anthony Shapland, explore a process Anthony calls Gleaning, a way of navigating ideas through writing games!

An image of Anthony Shapland, stood in front of some trees. The text reads 'Book your tickets for: Gleaning: Writing Place and Plot, a masterclass with Writer in Residence 2026 Anthony Shapland. 22 August 2026 10:30am - 3pm, Tickets £70.

📣We are seeking an experienced and commercially aware Finance and Business Manager (full-time, £38,000 per annum) to join our Executive Team and play a key role in the strategic and operational leadership of the organisation. Deadline: 27th July @ 10am Go to About Us -> Work at Gladstone's Library

The Gladstone's Library building with text overlayed. WORK WITH US! Now Hiring: Finance and Business Manager. We are seeking an experienced and commercially aware Finance and Business Manager to join our Executive Team and play a key role in the strategic and operational leadership of the organisation. This is an exciting full-time opportunity for a finance professional with strong hotel or hospitality sector experience to contribute to the sustainability and growth of a historic charitable institution. Visit our website for the full job description and details of how to apply.
Application deadline: Monday 27th July 2026 at 10am. www.gladstoneslibrary.org/about/work-at-gladstones-library/

We are delighted to invite Dr Abdul-Azim Ahmed to speak at this year's Gladfest, taking place Saturday 29th August! 📖 Dr Abdul-Azim Ahmed is Deputy Director of the Islam-UK Centre at Cardiff University, where he is part of an interdisciplinary team researching contemporary Islam.

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Join us TOMORROW for a fun-filled day of activities for all ages! Travel along our story trail through the grounds and building of Gladstone’s Library, finding new activities along your journey. With clay model making, sun printing, badge making, mini book making, and more!

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📢 Book your tickets now for Writer in Residence 2026 Anthony Shapland's talk: How did I get Here? 📢 🌍️ In his talk Anthony will build on the question ‘how did I get here?’ as a starting point, a narrative that invites reflection and thought about privilege, labour and luck.

A poster, which contains an image of author Anthony Shapland stood in front of some trees. The text reads 'Book your tickets for How did I Get Here? A talk with Writer in Residence 2026 Anthony Shapland. 13 August 2026 7pm - 8pm Tickets £18

🎟️ Tickets are now available for our Gladfest Literary Festival, taking place on 29th August! 🎟️ This year, Gladfest is a month-long celebration of everything we do. Our Literary Festival will include four talks from incredible authors, as well as a talk from our Warden and Head of Collections.

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📣We are seeking an experienced and commercially aware Finance and Business Manager (full-time, £38,000 per annum) to join our Executive Team and play a key role in the strategic and operational leadership of the organisation. Deadline: 27th July @ 10am Go to About Us -> Work at Gladstone's Library

The Gladstone's Library building with text overlayed. WORK WITH US! Now Hiring: Finance and Business Manager. We are seeking an experienced and commercially aware Finance and Business Manager to join our Executive Team and play a key role in the strategic and operational leadership of the organisation. This is an exciting full-time opportunity for a finance professional with strong hotel or hospitality sector experience to contribute to the sustainability and growth of a historic charitable institution. Visit our website for the full job description and details of how to apply.
Application deadline: Monday 27th July 2026 at 10am. www.gladstoneslibrary.org/about/work-at-gladstones-library/

We are delighted to invite Sheena Kalayil to speak at this year's Gladfest, taking place Saturday 29th August! 📖 Sheena has released four novels, including her most recent release, The Others, which was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction this year.

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Join us for a fun-filled day for all ages! Travel along our story trail finding activities like clay model making, sun printing, badge making, mini book making, and more! 🗓️Thu 23rd July 🕑️Drop in 10am-2pm 🎟️Free. Register your interest on our website to help our planning!

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📣 New: The Mary McCullen Scholarship, awarded for any piece of work, broadly interpreted, that reflects Gladstone’s vision of relations between Britain and Ireland ✨️One week scholarship ✨️Competitive application scheme ✨️Deadline 3rd August Visit our website to apply!

A photo focuses on a hand holding a pen, sitting at a desk with a lamp and a pile of books. Around the desk are floor to ceiling bookcases. Text reads: New Scholarship: The Mary McCullen Scholarship. Applications close at 11.45pm BST on Monday 3rd August 2026. www.gladstoneslibrary.org/about/scholarships-and-residencies/

📖 Gladfest Literary Festival: Tickets Now Available!📖 🗓️ Saturday 29th August 2026 🕑️ 10am-9pm 🎟️ Full Gladfest Ticket: £130 (includes all events, lunch, dinner and refreshments) 🎟️ Day Only Ticket: £100. (includes the day-time programme, lunch and refreshments)

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New: The Peter C. Erb Scholarship in Nineteenth-Century Studies in honour of the Canadian academic Peter C. Erb One-week scholarship for an early career postgraduate researcher or academic working on 19thC British studies or the relationship between Church and State. APPLY NOW!

A photo focuses on a hand holding a pen, sitting at a desk with a lamp and a pile of books. Around the desk are floor to ceiling bookcases. Text reads 'New Scholarship: The Peter C. Erb Scholarship in Nineteenth-Century Studies. Applications close at 11.45pm BST on Monday 3rd August 2026. www.gladstoneslibrary.org/about/scholarships-and-residencies/

Did you know? Gladstone's Library is a residential library! We have 26 bedrooms, an on-site restaurant and a comfortable guest lounge and residents can access our silent Reading Rooms from 9am-10pm 7 days a week! 🗓️ Book today by going to our website and clicking 'Rest'.

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Is the Law Really on Our Side? A young people’s Q&A with the first female President of the UK Supreme Court, the Right Honourable the Baroness Hale of Richmond DBE. 🗓️ Mon 6 Jul 🕑️ 10am-12pm 📍 Gladstone's Library 📖 For ages 16-24 🎟️ Free tickets here: buff.ly/Fw4uXaZ

A poster showing the background image of the Reading Rooms at Gladstone's Library with displays of books around the room. In the bottom right corner is a headshot of Lady Hale. In the top right corner is the logo of Gladstone's Library. Text reads 'Is the Law Really on Our Side? A young people's Q&A with Lady Hale. Monday 6th July 10am-12noon. Free tickets available for young people aged 16-24.'

📣 Gladstone's Library Scholarships: Applications for 2027 Now Open!📣 - Two new scholarships - 23 scholarships available - Go to our website -> Scholarships and Residencies for information and to apply APPLY NOW! Applications close at 11.45pm on Monday 3rd August 2026.

A photo focuses on a hand holding a pen, sitting at a desk with a lamp and a pile of books. Around the desk are floor to ceiling bookcases.

📣We're Hiring: Reading Room Assistant You will work front of house in the Library’s busy Reading Rooms in a team of four. This part-time role is front-facing and includes lots of interaction with the public. Visit our website to apply. Application deadline: 7th July at 10am.

A hand reaching for a book on a shelf. The title overlayed reads 'Work With Us!' Text underneath is the same as the caption. A URL across the bottom reads www.gladstoneslibrary.org/about/work-at-gladstones-library/

There are still morning tickets available for Gladstone Umbrella, a friendly and engaging conference dedicated to William Ewart Gladstone, the Victorian statesman affectionately known as the “Grand Old Man”.

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Is the Law Really on Our Side? A young people’s Q&A with the first female President of the UK Supreme Court, the Right Honourable the Baroness Hale of Richmond DBE. 🗓️ Mon 6 Jul 🕑️ 10am-12pm 📍 Gladstone's Library 📖 For ages 16-24 🎟️ Free tickets here: buff.ly/Fw4uXaZ

A poster showing the background image of the Reading Rooms at Gladstone's Library with displays of books around the room. In the bottom right corner is a headshot of Lady Hale. In the top right corner is the logo of Gladstone's Library. Text reads 'Is the Law Really on Our Side? A young people's Q&A with Lady Hale. Monday 6th July 10am-12noon. Free tickets available for young people aged 16-24.'

📢 General Notice 📢 Due to our Alibis in the Archive crime writing festival taking place this weekend, the Reading Rooms will be closed from Friday 5th June - Sunday 7th June. We apologise for the inconvenience.

A notice, which reads the following. 

General Notice 

Due to our Alibis in the Archive crime writing festival taking place this weekend, the Reading Rooms will be closed from Friday 5th June - Sunday 7th June.

Residents will be able to access the Reading Rooms on Friday 5th June 9am - 12pm, and Sunday 7th June from 5pm. 

The Reading Rooms will reopen to Readers and Researchers on Monday 8th June, from 9am. 

We apologise for the inconvenience.

📢 General Notice 📢 We will not be able to issue new Reader cards this Saturday, 30th May 2026. Any existing Readers will be able to access the Reading Rooms as usual. We will be able to issue new cards from Sunday, 31st May. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

A notice, which reads: 

General Notice.
 
We will not be able to issue new Reader cards this Saturday, 30th May 2026.

Any existing Readers will be able to access the Reading Rooms as usual. We will be able to issue new cards from Sunday, 31st May.

Residents will also be able to access the Theology room as usual, from 9am - 10pm. 

We are sorry for the inconvenience.