Do YOU Have The Enthusiasm, The Interest And The Skills To Encourage More And More People To Enjoy Our Cultural Treasures?

The National Library of Wales and the Welsh Government are looking for new people to join the National Library’s Board of Trustees and ensure that the wide range of cultural treasures which it cares for can be appreciated and enjoyed by all. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As one of six Legal Deposit Libraries in the UK and Ireland, the National Library cares for an incredible collection of cultural treasures from paintings and photographs to archives, much loved books, stories and audio-visual materials which record the cultural memory of our nation. Based in Aberystwyth, the National Library currently houses more than 6 million books, 1.5 million maps, 950,000 photos and 50,000 works of art. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There are currently one Vice-President and three Trustee vacancies available on the Board of Trustees at the National Library and the Welsh Government and the National Library are keen to appoint four highly committed, enthusiastic and motivated people to these positions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Board is the governing body of the National Library of Wales, responsible for setting the strategic direction of this important national institution, and for upholding high standards of public accountability. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates, who is also responsible for Culture and the Arts in Wales, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are looking for new and dynamic people to join the National Library’s Board, to reflect the diversity and interests of modern Wales. This is an excellent opportunity for people with passion and vision to join the Board and help to lead and support the National Library of Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone, from established leaders to people who have not been trustees before, to make a contribution and gain valuable and rewarding experience.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Cabinet Secretary added: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am keen to see the Library embrace the Welsh Government’s determination to further improve our public services to make them as accessible and appealing as possible to all. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I want to see more visitors than ever before accessing the services provided by the National Library, whether in person, or by using the opportunities offered by digital technology, and creating their own adventures using its collections. I am also keen to see the National Library reaching out to a wide range of communities throughout Wales, especially to people who have never visited the Library before and may feel it’s not for them.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The National Library’s President, Rhodri Glyn Thomas said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“These are exciting times at the National Library of Wales. We face great challenges but also new opportunities. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals to join us on this journey and to contribute towards a viable and creative future for the Library.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

These positions are voluntary and unpaid, but all reasonable expenses incurred on Library business are reimbursed. The Vice President’s post requires a commitment of 3-4 days per month and the Trustee roles require availability for a minimum of 12 days a year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​