The GWL Collection
The Library is a unique resource in Scotland. It houses a huge collection of materials by, for and about women. It comprises several thousand items donated by users, supporters, members and publishers.
With the Library preparing for relocation to the Micthell Library, access to the collection will be limited over the next year. We will continue to run events and courses, and we're offering new and re-joining members two years membership for the price of one. For more information, please contact the Library.
What will you find at the Library?
The Library collection comprises information broadly in the following sections: reference, reports, work, education, politics, feminist theory, history, violence against women, abuse, pornography issues, prostitution, lesbian lives and cultures, young women, women of colour, women in global contexts, myth, goddesses and religion, travel, peace and war, sport, fiction, poetry, literary theory, autobiographies and biographies, drama, art, architecture and older women.
Books: Classic feminist fiction, dime novels, girls' annuals, first editions and books on many subjects of interest to and by women from travel to biography, literary theory, poetry, women's health, lesbian lives and history.
Journals: Magazines and fanzines, comics, academic periodicals and women's campaigning newsletters both local and international.
Videos and DVDs: Women-centred films, music videos, documentaries and artist's works. Also films made by Library staff and supporters documenting significant women's events and conferences, demonstrations and talks. Videos and DVDs may be viewed at the Library, preferably by appointment.
Photographs: Mainly recording the development of Women in Profile (1987-1991) and Glasgow Women's Library.
Archives: Group and individual collections including the national Lesbian Archive and Information Centre, Edinburgh Women's Centre, Camden Women's Centre archive and Black Lesbian group, Women's Church Resource group, London Lesbian Line, items from the Lesbian Line in Glasgow, the Scottish Women's Aid newspaper cuttings archive which helps map information on domestic violence in Scotland since the 1970's and many individual archive items and personal collections.
Posters: A large collection including posters recording local Reclaim the Night activities, Library posters from 1991 onwards, Zero Tolerance campaigning and a host of political, feminist, lesbian and women's posters including those promoting exhibitions, marches, projects and International Women's Day events.
Ephemera: Much of the activities of women and women's groups locally and nationally is only recorded in items that have been collected by Glasgow Women's Library as ephemera. These include postcards, invites, bags, leaflets, flyers and other vital records of women's work. We also have an impressive array of badges in the Library collection and the Lesbian Archive.
Newspaper cuttings: Although we have items from earlier decades there is a substantial ongoing collection dating from the end of the 1980's. This is an invaluable mine of information for researchers and campaigners, single-issue organisations and journalists.
Add to our collection!
Donations are always very welcome, find out more about how to donate materials to the collection.