Glasgow Women’s Library

Fiona Doubleday

The moment I stepped in the Women’s Library, then housed in the same block as the Mitchell Library, I was greeted with a warm smile and a gentle introduction to what lay before me. A meeting was taking place at one end of the book-lined room, art was on display in the middle and a space was available at the other end for quiet study. I felt instantly comfortable, and spent a fascinating hour or so looking at some of what it had to offer.

Back at home I went online (where I had first found the library) to look through their considerable archive catalogue – and found the work of the Glasgow artist Hannah Frank, who lived for a hundred years, from 1908 to 2008. Her work is magnificent, reminiscent of Aubrey Beardsley in its fin-de-siècle decorativeness. See: hannahfrank.org.uk

The Library is currently on the move to new and much larger premises at 23 Landressy Street, Bridgeton in Glasgow’s East End, G40 2AN. Meanwhile, it is running a project called ‘illuminated letters’. They are asking people to write to a heroine who is no longer with us, and all entries are welcome. If you can’t think of anyone, a useful list of women can be found at: Illuminated Letters Launch

If you are interested in submitting a letter you can email me at fionadoubleday@me.com

We are very fortunate to have such a great resource at hand in Glasgow. If you sign up on line to their newsletter they will send you news of the many and varied projects they offer. Just click on: www.womenslibrary.org.uk