Glasgow Women's Library

Introduction

Glasgow Women’s Library is the only Accredited Museum in the UK dedicated to women’s lives, histories and achievements, with a lending library, archive collections and innovative programmes of public events & learning opportunities.

Plan Your Visit

Warm Welcome

GWL is open to all, free, and friendly!

Amongs the GWL shelves, a woman sits reading a book, wile another stands browsing the shelves.

We are a Library

From pioneering artists, explorers and political activists to fiction and poetry from Scotland and around the world, our lending library will have something to spark your curiosity.

Not sure where to start? Explore our Reading Ideas.

We are an Archive

Our collections are an invaluable and unique resource, which provide vital evidence of women’s achievements, culture and lives.

Get a taste of our collections in one of our Open Archive events.

We are a Museum

From the smallest protest badge to artworks embedded in the fabric of our building, our collections reflect the multi-faceted experiences of women past and present.

Explore highlights from our collections in our online exhibitions.

We are an Art Space

GWL has worked with artists from our earliest days in a storefront in Garnethill, supporting creatives to make ground-breaking work informed by our rich collection and the diverse communities that contribute to our vision of a world in which every woman is able to fulfil her potential.

Find out more about our work with artists.

We are a Learning Space

Learning is at the heart of everything we do, from helping women with their reading, writing and numbers to sharing our expertise and experience in addressing inequalities.

Find out about Learning at GWL

Get Involved

There are lots of ways to get involved at GWL, from borrowing books and attending events, to volunteering and helping to develop projects.

Find out how to get involved

Workshop attendees in discussion at a workshop about how to protest
What's on at GWL
What's on at GWL
Explore our events calendar
Support our work
Support our work

GWL has always grown with the help of our supporters

Find out how you can help
Volunteer at GWL
Volunteer at GWL

Volunteers are involved in all aspects of our work, learning new skills and enriching our organisation with their ideas and enthusiasm.

Find out more about volunteering
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GWL's building in Landressy Street, bright sunlight making the blond sandstone walls and columns glow

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    This is who we are

    GWL’s work is rooted in our vision, mission and values, celebrating the lives and achievements of women and addressing the gender gap that contributes to widespread inequalities in Scotland.

    Find out about how we work

    Addressing Inequalities
    Addressing Inequalities

    Addressing inequalities is integral to the history and culture of Glasgow Women’s Library

    Find out how we address inequalities
    Caring For Our Environment
    Caring For Our Environment

    Care for our environment is built into everything we do at GWL

    Find out how we care for our environment
    Learning at GWL
    Learning at GWL

    Learning is at the heart of Glasgow Women's Library's work

    Find out more about learning at GWL
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    Today at GWL

    A book made of felt lies open. On the right-hand pages is a poem called 'Magic'. On the left-hand page is a graphic of a bird flying out of the pages of an open book.

    Keys To My Mind

    Thursday, 27th March to Saturday, 28th June

    For over twenty years the Adult Literacy and Numeracy (ALN) team has been working with women from all backgrounds and from across Glasgow, supporting them with their reading, writing and numbers. This showcase is brought to you by our learners, volunteers and staff and shows the variety of ways we make learning fun, creative and informal, as well as highlighting some of the amazing work our learners have done.

    Alexandra Compton stands amongst her installation of colourful paper cranes, with her back to the camera, the flash from her phone camera casting shadows against a white wall.

    In the Folds

    Tuesday, 1st April to Saturday, 31st May

    In the Folds is an installation created by Alexandra Compton, a writer and artist from Bridgeton, Glasgow.

    For Peace!

    Thursday, 17th April to Saturday, 5th July

    Drawing on archives from GWL and MayDay Rooms, this exhibition revisits the peace movement’s material history.

    Upcoming events

    Members of GWL's Reading Group for Muslim Women stand in a line in the GWL library space, showing the camera a copy of Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris, in physical form or on their phone screens.

    Reading Group for Muslim Women

    Monday, 28th April, 10:30am

    If you are passionate about books and love to share them with others then this group is for you!

    Graphic showing the front cover of Donna Moore's new book, The Devil's Draper

    Story Café Special: Donna Moore - Book Launch

    Thursday, 1st May, 1:00pm

    On the launch date of Donna Moore’s new historical crime fiction novel, The Devil’s Draper, a follow up to The Unpicking, we’re celebrating with the author who will share her historical research and read from the book.

    A group of women sit around a large wooden table. they smile towards the camera and have mugs and papers in front of them.

    Open Book

    Tuesday, 6th May, 10:30am

    These vibrant and thoughtful monthly Open Book creative writing sessions are led by Kathrine Sowerby, a poet and writer based in Glasgow.