Garrison Library
| Garrison Library | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Old photo showing the location of the Garrison Library. | |
 | |
| 36°08′20″N5°21′08″W/ 36.138966°N 5.35215°W | |
| Location | Governor's Parade,Gibraltar |
| Type | Reference library |
| Scope | Localmilitary history |
| Established | 1793 |
| Reference to legal mandate | Gibraltar Garrison Library Trust Act 2011 |
| Collection | |
| Items collected | Books, newspapers,maps |
| Size | 45,000 |
| Access and use | |
| Access requirements | Open Monday to Friday |
| Population served | 30,000 |
| Other information | |
| Director | Dr. Jennifer Ballantine Perera |
TheGarrison Librarywas founded inGibraltarin 1793 by Captain (later Colonel)John Drinkwater Bethune.
History
[edit]Constructed on the site of the Governors’ residence during theSpanish occupation of Gibraltar,[1]the library was officially opened in 1804 by theDuke of Kent.In 1823 the library's fees were "100 hard dollars" which was paid by the 150 proprietors of the "Commercial Library". Each proprietor was entitled to borrow one large or three smaller books or an entire set of a novel for one to two weeks. In exchange they had to also pay 16 dollars per year. This was a commercial affair and membership of the library could be bought or sold. The thirteen members of the committee were elected annually and the library was to be open seven days a week with both winter and summer hours.[2]
The library served as the headquarters and archive service of theGibraltar Chronicle,the world's second oldest English language newspaper. The Library was established for and by the officers of the Garrison of Gibraltar. It has remained a private entity run by a Trust for over two hundred years[3]up until, September 2011, at which point the Library was transferred to theGovernment of Gibraltar.[4]
Description
[edit]The Garrison is a library of 45,000 books, including many rare volumes. This library exists to hold the collection which includes good coverage of the subjects of culture and travel. The library was started to occupy officers stationed in Gibraltar. It has an excellent local history collection. Manylithographsand art prints are held here and many of the furnishings have interesting historical backgrounds.
In 2006 the editorial offices of theGibraltar Chroniclemoved to new premises inWatergate House,and the print works relocated in 2007 toNew Harbours.The Chronicle's archive currently remains at the Garrison Library, as does the records of the more recentPanoramanewspaper.[5]
Thedragon treein the library's front garden is thought to date from the Spanish occupation when the plant was introduced to Gibraltar by mariners who brought the seeds from theCanary Islands.[1]
Gallery
[edit]-
The library in 1846 byThomas Colman Dibdin -
Part of the book collection at the library -
Some of the old books at the library -
Volunteer Guide Robert Wheeler talks about the Garrison Library
References
[edit]- ^ab"Garrison Library".Visit Gibraltar. Archived fromthe originalon 15 March 2013.Retrieved24 February2013.
- ^A catalogue of books in the Gibraltar commercial library, established in the year 1806.Gibraltar: Garrison Library. 1823. p. 163.
- ^Gibraltar Garrison Library Minute Books and 200th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet, 2004
- ^Mascarenhas, Alice (21 September 2011)."New Chapter for Gib's Ancient Library".Gibraltar Chronicle.Archived fromthe originalon 23 September 2015.Retrieved21 July2012.
- ^Ángela Alameda Hernández.The discursive construction of Gibraltarian identity in the printed press: A critical discourse analysis on the Gibraltar issue (PhD Thesis)(PDF).University of Granada.pp. 135–136. 84-338-3818-0.Retrieved13 October2008.
External links
[edit]
- Barnaby Rogerson."Gibraltar in History".Travel Intelligence.Retrieved21 December2012.[permanent dead link]
