Places: John Mackintosh Hall

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 Monday, July 13, 2020 - 09:36

– Gibraltar’s only public library

John Mackintosh Hall is home to Gibraltar’s only public library. Before his death in 1940, John Mackintosh “left a specific request in his will for a public library to be incorporated within the proposed cultural centre”. His father, being a member of the Exchange and Commercial committee, had established a civilian library in 1871 amidst protests, thus, the “provision of a library was a matter of importance to the Mackintosh family”.

Today, the John Mackintosh Library holds over 10,000 books “and is committed to restocking their collection with new volumes every six months”. Furthermore, “the library holds a selection of books by local authors and many publications on Gibraltar, Gibraltar issues, history, and prominent public figures”. This makes the John Mackintosh Library “truly unique in its offering; no other Library in the world will have the same books as us”. This, no doubt, celebrates and encourages local talent to produce and further expand on local culture.

The Library also has a well-stocked reference section, and students from GCSE to A Levels continue to use and access the Library’s resources for their studies. Photocopiers, printers, free computers and internet access make the Library incredibly accommodating for those engaging with their research and work. “There is also a special section dedicated to children and toddlers furnished with bookcases, colourful tables and chairs specifically designed for young children”.

Covid-19, a reo-ccurring story for all Gibraltarians, had forced the Library to close. However, they re-opened May to “offer members the facility to return books and take books out on loan”. The Library staff prepared displays for new books (“popular titles and authors, and books for children”) to help readers for their next selection and were always on hand to select books at a members’ request.

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