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
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GWL's building in Landressy Street, bright sunlight making the blond sandstone walls and columns glow

    Join our mailing list

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    Glasgow Women's Library processes your personal information in order to subscribe you to our mailing list. We process and store data safely in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (2018). You can withdraw your consent at any time by getting in touch. For further information on how your data is used and stored, see our Privacy Policy.

    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
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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.

    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.

    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, 3rd June, 10:30am to 12:30pm

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

    Upcoming events

    The corner of a street in Garnethill, Glasgow, showing the original home of the Women's Library - a storefront on the corner of the street, with two individuals standing outside.

    Open Archive: Garnethill Edition

    Thursday, 5th June, 12:00pm

    Explore archive materials and pictures which document the beginnings of Glasgow Women’s Library.

    Table with pens, paper, knittting, and hands making things

    Women Making It

    Friday, 6th June, 10:30am

    Join us this Spring for a range of GWL’s bitesize feminist crafting sessions, including clay work, basket weaving, quilling, and much more.

    A person stands looking at a mural on a brick wall in the Garnethill neighbourhood of Glasgow.

    Garnethill Women’s Heritage Walk and Workshop

    Saturday, 7th June, 12:00pm

    Uncover the extraordinary history of Garnethill and the legacy of women’s contributions to Glasgow’s City Centre community.