One for the books as library marks centenary
SKETTY’S much-loved library has celebrated a century of being at the heart of its community, turning the page on a new chapter in a story every bit as exciting as the thrillers on its shelves.
Some of its youngest members and its oldest borrowers popped in to wish happy birthday to the venerable building that’s still going strong in the internet age.
Elliott King, cabinet member for equalites and culture, said: “If bricks and mortar could tell their stories, then Sketty’s would be one for the ages.
“It was the first purpose-built library outside what was then Swansea’s town centre. It was designed by Ernest Morgan, who also designed the Townhill estate and Mayhill School and one of its first managers was a Boer War veteran who regaled visitors with his war stories.
“In the Second World War Sketty Library kept going, acting as a collection point for books salvaged from blitzed libraries and elsewhere to offset wartime books shortages.
“Famously, Kingsley Amis – author of Lucky Jim and father of one of Britain’s greatest modern writers Martin Amis – called Sketty Library his local library when he was working at Swansea University.
“More recently award-winning author Jo Walton has been a regular visitor, and you won’t be surprised to find that at Sketty Library you can find books by all three of them today.
“On its centenary I’d like to wish the library and the community around it the happiest of birthdays and good luck for the next 100 years of its page-turning story.”
Current library manager Anthony
Ball said there have been many changes over the years, but successive generations of local people keep coming back to take advantage of all the things on offer at a modern Swansea library.
Anthony said: “Sketty’s first library was opened in 1919 in a house above a newsagents on Gower Road with just 450 books. The current building was opened on May 1, 1924, and it’s as popular now as it’s always been. Now we have thousands of books to borrow with thousands more titles we can order in from partner libraries around the city.
“Of course we do books, but we are also home to free computers, rhyme times for toddlers and their parents and other events for families as well as book readings by local authors. People can even pick up recycling bags from us.
“One of our first library managers was Ernest Muxworthy who, apart from sharing his tales of the Boer War, also decorated the library with plants and kept his collection of local birds in his office to keep them warm in winter.
“Our longest-serving librarian was the formidable Lucy Finch who worked here from 1930 until her retirement in 1969. Legend has it that she had an uncanny ability to tell what kind of book readers wanted just by looking at them.
“I’m not sure I’m quite at Lucy Finch’s level yet, but every day here is like opening a door to a new story.”