Welsh Journals

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THE CURRENT PROVISION AND PROMOTION OF WELSH- LANGUAGE READING MATERIALS IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES OF WALES JANE DEL-PIZZO AND GWILYM HUWS INTRODUCTION The year 2000 marks the 150th anniversary of the passing of the first Public Libraries Act empowering local authorities in England and Wales to establish rate-supported public libraries. Since its inception in 1850 the public library movement has played an important role in support of the educational and cultural aspirations of millions of individuals; nevertheless, social historians have given little attention to the relationship between the public library movement and the Welsh language and culture. There are some notable exceptions, such as a recent study by Philip Henry Jones which explores the provision of Welsh- language material in the early days of Welsh public libraries.1 Other, shorter, references can be found in a number of official and research reports on education, the publishing industry, and the Welsh language as well as reports on various aspects of the public library service.2 The purpose of this study, however, is not so much to trace this relationship over the past 150 years, but rather to present some of the key findings of a recent survey on the provision and promotion of Welsh-language materials. To fully understand the significance of these findings it is important to know how the relationship between the Welsh language and public libraries has evolved.