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.

    The entrance doors at GWL, bearing the words 'Come on in, we're home'

    Plan Your Visit

    Not sure what to expect at GWL? Find out about visiting the Library, attending events and exploring our collections in our Plan Your Visit page.

    Upcoming events

    Two bodies are holding each other close and supporting each other by balancing their weight. They are both wearing pink and have twisted their forms together in front of a black floor length curtain and standing on a black floor.

    Touch Tales

    Saturday, 5th April, 2:00pm

    Touch Tales celebrates and addresses our need for more wide-spread and unashamed acts of platonic connection and care. Through storytelling, writing, conversation and gentle sensation-led movement, we invite you to share your histories and memories of meaningful touch.

    Sandstone archway with a cross on the top, with ivy growing up on side.

    Merchant City Women's Heritage Walk

    Saturday, 5th April, 2:00pm

    Starting near the site of the Royal Maternity Hospital on Rottenrow, our guides will lead you through the historic streets of this cosmopolitan hub.

    Two bodies are holding each other close and supporting each other by balancing their weight. They are both wearing pink and have twisted their forms together in front of a black floor length curtain and standing on a black floor.

    Touch Tales

    Thursday, 10th April, 5:30pm

    Touch Tales celebrates and addresses our need for more wide-spread and unashamed acts of platonic connection and care. Through storytelling, writing, conversation and gentle sensation-led movement, we invite you to share your histories and memories of meaningful touch.