Catholic National Library facts for kids
The Catholic National Library is a very old and important library that holds many books and magazines about the Roman Catholic faith. It started in 1912 and has a huge collection of about 70,000 books and other writings. This library covers many different topics related to the Catholic Church. It is also a charity in England, which means it helps people and doesn't make a profit.
What is the Catholic National Library?
The Catholic National Library is a special place where people can find lots of information about the Catholic Church. It's like a giant collection of knowledge. It has books, magazines, and other materials on many subjects, from history to art, all related to the Catholic faith.
How Did the Library Start?
The library began in 1912 in a small porch of a Catholic church in a town called Bexhill-on-Sea. It started with a private collection of books owned by an American man named Mr. William Reed-Lewis.
Where Has the Library Been?
Over the years, the library moved several times:
- In 1922, it moved to Victoria, a part of London.
- By 1936, it was officially named the Catholic Central Library.
- In 1959, a group called the Friars of the Atonement started helping to run and pay for the library.
- In 1997, the building it was in was sold. There was a worry that the library's amazing collection might be split up. But many important Catholic writers and noble people in Britain worked hard to keep all the books together.
- After 1997, a group of Trustees took over running the library. They rented new space in Lancing Street, London.
- In 2007, the collection moved again to St Michael's Abbey, Farnborough. At this time, its name changed from the Catholic Central Library to the Catholic National Library. It was open for visitors once more.
- Access to the library in Farnborough closed on June 27, 2014.
- In 2015, the entire collection moved to its current home at Durham University Library.
