National Library of Wales
What it does
Founded by Royal Charter in 1907, NLW is one of the legal deposit libraries of the UK and has benefited from this status since 1911. Through this privilege, by purchase, donation or legacy it has built up a significant collection specialising in Wales, the Welsh and the other Celtic peoples that includes a wide range of media: books, records, maps, pictures, films & for the benefit of the public.
Its charitable purposes
FOR THE GENERAL BENEFIT OF THE LIBRARY.
Causes
- What it works on
- Education and training
- Arts, culture, heritage and science
- Environment, conservation and heritage
- Economic and community development, and employment
- Who it helps
- The general public
- How it works
- Provides staff or volunteers
- Provides buildings, facilities or open space
- Provides services
- Provides advocacy, advice or information
- Sponsors or carries out research
- Acts as an umbrella or resource body
Where it works
- Elsewhere
- Throughout England and Wales
Area of benefit in its governing document: Not Defined
Income and spending
In the year ending 31 March 2025, it had income of £22,330,000 and spent £17,617,000.
| Year ending | Income | Spending | Paid staff | Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 March 2025 | £22,330,000 | £17,617,000 | 202 | 102 |
| 31 March 2024 | £21,049,000 | £19,988,000 | 229 | 87 |
| 31 March 2023 | £17,430,000 | £19,393,000 | 226 | 5 |
| 31 March 2022 | £18,776,000 | £14,834,000 | 219 | 50 |
| 31 March 2021 | £17,305,000 | £14,097,000 | 239 | 50 |
Financial position
Separate measures from the charity's own returns and accounts, each with its year. Read them together: no single measure says how well a charity is run.
- Income over time
- Up 29%, from £17,305,000 in the year to 31 March 2021 to £22,330,000 in the year to 31 March 2025.
- Spending against income
- It spent 79% of its income in the year to 31 March 2025. It spent more than its income in 1 of the 5 years shown.
- Largest funder
- Welsh Government gave £18,821,000 in the year to 31 March 2025, 84% of that year's income.
Government funding, as the charity reported it
Government grants in the year ending 31 March 2025: £18,821,000 from 9 grants. Government contracts: Not reported.
| Year ending | Government grants | Government contracts |
|---|---|---|
| 31 March 2025 | £18,821,000 from 9 grants | Not reported |
| 31 March 2024 | £17,867,000 from 5 grants | Not reported |
| 31 March 2023 | £15,486,000 from 1 grant | Not reported |
| 31 March 2022 | £17,974,000 from 9 grants | Not reported |
| 31 March 2021 | £14,867,000 from 8 grants | Not reported |
Where its income came from in the year ending 31 March 2025
- Donations and legacies£984,000
- Charitable activities, including grants and contracts for its work£20,238,000
- Trading and fundraising£835,000
- Investments£273,000
Who funds it, according to its accounts
In its accounts for the year ending 31 March 2025, the charity named 21 funders who gave £20,182,000 between them. £20,005,000 of that came from public bodies.
These figures were read from the accounts the charity filed with the Charity Commission by Claude, an AI model, in OpenEconomy's accounts reader. AI can misread a table, so check the accounts on the register before relying on a figure.
| Funder | Type | Mar 2025 | Mar 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welsh Government | Welsh Government | £18,821,000 | £17,738,000 |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | National Lottery | £878,000 | £1,494,000 |
| Arts Council of Wales | Other public body | £183,000 | £116,000 |
| Amgueddfa Cymru | Trust, company or other | £146,000 | £154,000 |
| Ceredigion County Council | Council | £93,000 | £9,000 |
| Wales Council for Voluntary Action | Other public body | £30,000 | |
| Hodge Foundation | Trust, company or other | £20,000 | |
| National Galleries | Trust, company or other | £5,000 | |
| British Film Institute | Trust, company or other | £3,000 | £34,000 |
| Mellon Foundation | Trust, company or other | £3,000 |
Grants awarded to it, published on 360Giving
Funders that publish to 360Giving list 9 grants to this charity since 1997, worth at least £9,117,978.
By funder
- The National Lottery Heritage Fund£9,012,279, 8 grants
- The National Lottery Community Fund£105,699, 1 grant
| Awarded | Grant | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Apr 2017 | The National Lottery Heritage Fund | £10,000 |
| 21 Mar 2017 | The National Lottery Heritage Fund | £5,156,204 |
| 27 Mar 2014 | The National Lottery Heritage Fund | £85,000 |
| 11 Sept 2012 | The National Lottery Heritage Fund | £698,700 |
| 25 Jan 2012 | The National Lottery Community Fund | £105,699 |
| 10 Jun 2002 | The National Lottery Heritage Fund | £365,500 |
| 8 Nov 2000 | The National Lottery Heritage Fund | £2,400,000 |
| 16 Jul 1998 | The National Lottery Heritage Fund | £172,000 |
| 7 Jul 1997 | The National Lottery Heritage Fund | £124,875 |
In council meetings
Council business that names this charity, from the records councils publish, gathered by OpenCouncil. Newest first.
12 December 2025, Cardiff
Named in an agenda item or minute of Glamorgan Archives Joint Committee
Report of the Glamorgan Archivist for the period 1st September to 30th November 2025
25 November 2025, Cardiff
Named in an agenda item or minute of Governance and Audit Committee
National Fraud Initiative 2024-25: Update for Cardiff Council
10 July 2025, Ceredigion
Named in an agenda item or minute of Learning Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Chair Announcements
13 June 2025, Cardiff
Named in an agenda item or minute of Glamorgan Archives Joint Committee
Report of the Glamorgan Archivist for the period 1st March to 31st May 2025
29 April 2025, Merthyr Tydfil
Named in an agenda item or minute of SACRE/SAC
Qualifications (SACRE/SAC)
31 January 2025, Cardiff
Named in an agenda item or minute of Glamorgan Archives Joint Committee
Report of the Glamorgan Archivist for the period 1st September to 30th November 2024
20 September 2024, Cardiff
Named in an agenda item or minute of Glamorgan Archives Joint Committee
Report of the Glamorgan Archivist for the period 1st June to 31st August 2024
15 March 2024, Swansea
Named in an agenda item or minute of West Glamorgan Archives Committee
Report of the County Archivist.
23 January 2024, Ceredigion
Named in an agenda item or minute of Cabinet
Personal matters
30 September 2022, Swansea
Named in an agenda item or minute of West Glamorgan Archives Committee
Report of the County Archivist.
22 July 2022, Swansea
Named in an agenda item or minute of West Glamorgan Archives Committee
Report of the County Archivist.
11 March 2022, Swansea
Named in a decision of West Glamorgan Archives Committee
Report of the County Archivist.
In the Senedd and Welsh Government
Senedd and Welsh Government records that name this charity, gathered by OpenSenedd. Newest first.
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: Min CSSP
Purpose: Llyfrgell Cenedlaethol Cymru/National Library of Wales.
Llyfrgell Cenedlaethol Cymru/National Library of Wales
19 October 2026
Named by Nick Carter in the Senedd
Diolch. Audit Wales published a report last year on some of the challenges facing the National Library of Wales, and I just wondered what progress you've made in terms of their recommendations. They tended to be ongoing, but I just wondered if you've got any sort of feedback on some of the things th…
19 October 2026
Named by Paul Davies in the Senedd
…may, Chair? Looking ahead to the next few years, what is the most important change or investment that would be needed to ensure that the National Library of Wales continues to be sustainable financially, protects the nation's collections, and provides more value to the public? Un cwestiwn olaf wrthy…
19 October 2026
Named by Lis McLean in the Senedd
…e back to this meeting of the Culture, Communications, Cymraeg and Sport Committee. We will now move on to our evidence session with the National Library of Wales. I'd like to welcome the witnesses to the meeting. Please introduce yourselves. Croeso nôl i'r cyfarfod hwn o'r Pwyllgor Diwylliant, Cyfa…
19 October 2026
Named by Ashok Ahir in the Senedd
Ashok Ahir, president of the National Library of Wales. Ashok Ahir, llywydd y llyfrgell genedlaethol.
19 October 2026
Named by Rhodri Llwyd Morgan in the Senedd
Rhodri Llwyd Morgan, chief executive of the National Library of Wales. Rhodri Llwyd Morgan, prif weithredwr y llyfrgell genedlaethol.
21 September 2026
Named by Elfyn Llwyd in the Senedd
…the people of Wales are served in the right way by this process. One of the things that has been problematic over the years is that the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth receives legislation too late in the day; the legislation has been in force for some time and doesn't reach the library in…
15 September 2026
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: TCWCMCS
Purpose: Society of Chief Librarians Cymru, Libraries Connected & Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales.
Society of Chief Librarians Cymru, Libraries Connected & Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales
9 July 2026
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: TCWCMCS
Purpose: Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales.
Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales
10 June 2026
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: TCWCMCS
Purpose: Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales.
Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales
19 March 2026
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: Min CSSP
Purpose: National Library of Wales.
National Library of Wales
17 December 2025
Named by Lee Waters in the Senedd
…cted and it should be strengthened. It's not a view that's shared unanimously across the Labour Party, and I've spent enough time in the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth's Welsh political archive to know these are not new debates. These are debates as old as socialism itself, and we are seei…
4 December 2025
Named by Eluned Haf in the Senedd
…unity to discuss an outline of the statement. But we do have some questions as to how this will be funded. In November, we were with the National Library of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru at a conference held by the Irish Government and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for national institution…
4 December 2025
Named by Dr Maredudd ap Huw in the Senedd
Maredudd ap Huw, curator of manuscripts at the National Library of Wales. Maredudd ap Huw, curadur llawysgrifau Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru.
4 December 2025
Named by Rhodri Llwyd Morgan in the Senedd
Thank you. Rhodri Llwyd Morgan, chief executive of the National Library of Wales. Diolch. Rhodri Llwyd Morgan, prif weithredwr Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru.
4 December 2025
Named by Eluned Haf in the Senedd
…es around as a result of the UK-Ireland shared statement, but we were invited to attend the meetings, along with Amgueddfa Cymru and the National Library of Wales. But that fund is available from Ireland for organisations in Ireland to work with organisations in the UK. It's up to them who they work…
4 December 2025
Named by Delyth Jewell in the Senedd
Well, it's lovely to have both of you with us. We'll go straight into questions, if that's okay. The National Library of Wales has given evidence to our inquiries into the relationship between Wales and Ireland previously, and we have spoken to you as well about the consequences of Brexit. In terms…
4 December 2025
Named by Gareth Davies in the Senedd
…sources. One of the most important messages we heard in our 2023 Wales-Ireland work was that need for funding to match ambition. Has the National Library of Wales been impacted by funding challenges, and what effect has this had on your work with Wales-Ireland?
4 December 2025
Named by Delyth Jewell in the Senedd
…ing. We're moving on to panel four this afternoon. We're still looking at Wales-Ireland relations, and we're just about to hear from the National Library of Wales, and we're looking forward very much to the evidence. So, I'll ask our witnesses to introduce themselves for the record. I'll go to Rhodr…
19 November 2025
Named by Heledd Fychan in the Senedd
…when it's a 0.2 per cent increase for the arts council, and we see that it's a less-than-inflation increase for Amgueddfa Cymru and the National Library of Wales, what will they have to cut in order to be able to honour the figures in this chart then? Because, obviously, if they have to find it wit…
12 November 2025
Named by Julie Morgan in the Senedd
…Indian Army Service Corps in Wales. And this is a heritage research project delivered by KIRAN Cymru, supported by the British army, the National Library of Wales and the Glamorgan Archives, and funded by the Welsh Government. And the Indian army provided over 2.5 million soldiers to fight alongside…
31 October 2025
Named in a written question from Darren Millar
Addressed to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip.
…ple Court and the Jewish Cemetery in Roath Park, and promotes public access through initiatives like Open Doors. Amgueddfa Cymru and the National Library of Wales hold collections, oral histories, and educational resources on Jewish life, including the Holocaust and migration stories. They also feat…
22 October 2025
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: Min CSSP
Purpose: National Library of Wales.
National Library of Wales
8 October 2025
Named by Jane Richardson in the Senedd
…t sort of stuff and all sorts of economic objectives, et cetera. I would love to see targeted remit letters where people like us and the National Library of Wales are really tasked with elements around culture and how we can link wider to education and well-being, but that you don't ask every ALB to…
8 October 2025
Named by Delyth Jewell in the Senedd
…r best wishes to everyone at the amgueddfa. Thank you very much. Members, we will now take a short break. We'll be back in live with the National Library of Wales at 10:55. Thank you very much. Diolch yn fawr am y dystiolaeth. Bydd transgript o'r hyn sydd wedi cael ei ddweud yn cael ei ddanfon atoch…
Showing the 25 most recent of 122 mentions.
Trustees
15 trustees run the charity.
- Ashok AhirChair
- Andrew Evans
- David Hay
- Dr Andrew Cusworth
- Dr Andrew Prescott
- Dr Janet Wademan
- Dr Mohini Gupta
- Gronw Percy
- Hannah Lindsay
- Heledd Bebb
- John Trevor Allen
- Josephine Williams
- Michael Gibbon K.C.
- Quentin Howard
- Susan Davies
Filing record
Of the last 5 annual returns that were due, 4 arrived by the deadline.
| Year ending | Due | Annual return | Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 March 2025 | 31 January 2026 | Received 2 December 2025, 60 days early | Received 2 December 2025 |
| 31 March 2024 | 31 January 2025 | Received 16 January 2025, 15 days early | Received 16 January 2025 |
| 31 March 2023 | 31 January 2024 | Received 2 April 2024, 62 days late | Received 2 April 2024 |
| 31 March 2022 | 31 January 2023 | Received 26 January 2023, 5 days early | Received 26 January 2023 |
| 31 March 2021 | 31 January 2022 | Received 10 November 2021, 82 days early | Received 10 November 2021 |
About this charity
- Charity number
- 525775
- Status
- Registered
- Registered with the Commission
- 21 August 1967
- Governing document
- WILL PROVED AT LLANDAFF PROBATE REGISTRY ON 8 SEPTEMBER 1960
- Website
- www.llgc.org.uk
- Council area of its contact address
- Ceredigion
Sources
- Register details, income, spending, trustees and filing dates: Charity Commission for England and Wales, register of charities. Loaded by OpenEconomy on 2 November 2026.
- Funding from accounts: the charity's filed accounts, read by OpenEconomy's AI accounts reader on 1 November 2026.
- Grants awarded: 360Giving open grants data, from funders that publish there. Loaded by OpenEconomy on 2 November 2026.
- In council meetings: councils' published meeting records, gathered by OpenCouncil and matched to the charity by OpenEconomy on 4 November 2026.
- In the Senedd and Welsh Government: records gathered by OpenSenedd and matched to the charity by OpenEconomy on 5 November 2026.