The National Library of Wales Invests in Volunteers

11.12.2026

The National Library of Wales is pleased to announce that its Volunteering Scheme has been recognised with an Investing in Volunteers achiever award.

Volunteering plays a vital role in the Library’s work, and is highlighted in the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. Receiving the UK’s Investing in Volunteers quality standard for best practice in volunteer management recognizes the hard work of the Volunteering Team and volunteers in building an inclusive, inspiring and well-supported volunteering scheme.

Rhodri Llwyd Morgan, Chief Executive of the National Library of Wales said: 
“We are extremely proud to have achieved the Investing in Volunteers accreditation. It is an acknowledgment of the Library's outstanding work in this area. Volunteers are an important part of the Library's life, and the assessors have seen that volunteering is an activity that is deeply embedded in the Library. We greatly benefit from the work done by volunteers, as they contribute to a variety of projects. In turn, volunteers benefit from their experiences, and being part of the Library community enriches their lives.”

Mike Powdrill, a volunteer at the National Library of Wales said:
“I started volunteering at The National Library of Wales after struggling with my mental health. The work is enjoyable – and has purpose – and the staff and volunteers are fantastic company. Very quickly I increased my volunteering hours. The Volunteering Scheme offers me all the essentials for a healthy mind and lifestyle – getting out of the house, an occupation, and social interaction. The staff are very supportive and they have supported me with any issues I may have.”  

As well as meeting the overall criteria set by Investing in Volunteers, a number of strengths were identified during the assessment.

The Library attracts a diverse range of volunteers, in relation to age, nationality, neurodiversity, sexuality and gender, as well as mental and physical health. This diversity brings wider skills, experience and expertise to volunteering.

It was also noted that volunteers feel well and pro-actively supported, giving them confidence, and valued by staff members of the Volunteering Team.

The Library has now been added to the List of Investing in Volunteers Achievers and the award is valid for three years.

**This press release is also available in Welsh**
--ENDS--
Further Information:
Nia Wyn Dafydd
nia.dafydd@library.wales

NOTES FOR EDITORS

About the National Library of Wales

The National Library of Wales is a library for Wales and the world. Located in Aberystwyth, it is the home of the story of Wales.

Opened in 1907, the Library is the centre of research into the culture and heritage of Wales and the Celtic nations.

The purpose of the Library is to make our culture and heritage accessible for everyone to learn, research and enjoy.

We are a legal deposit library, which means we are entitled to a copy of every print publication in Britain and Ireland, but our collections also include the following:

• 8,000,000 books and periodicals (with around 4000 new items arriving each week through legal deposit and acquisition)
• 7,000,000 feet of film
• 250,000 hours of video
• 150,000 hours of sound
• 40,000 manuscripts
• 1,500,000 maps
• 1,000,000 photographs
• 70,000 works of art
• 1,900 cubic meters of archives
• Over 2.5PB of born digital archival holdings
• Over 6 million digitised objects

You will find further information together with a list of resources on the Library's website.

About Volunteering at the National Library of Wales

The Volunteering Scheme was established in 2012, and since then 462 volunteers have worked on a number of projects. Approximately 66 volunteers participate each week.

There are usually around 15 tasks available to the general volunteers, which occasionally change depending on the needs of the National Library.

Examples of the current tasks include researching Aberystwyth’s shipping captains, scanning for the People’s Collection Wales, transcribing the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition and BBC/ITV scripts and photographs, listing the Gorsedd members, and meeting and greeting visitors. Most volunteers undertake tasks by coming into the National Library, whilst a small number of tasks can be undertaken remotely.