Glasgow Women's Library

21/09/2026

21/09/2026

Happy 35th birthday to Glasgow Women’s Library!

Today, 21 September 2026, marks 35 years since Glasgow Women’s Library was founded - at exactly 10:10am on 21 September 1991.

To celebrate, we’re taking a journey through GWL’s history with ‘12,784 Days in 35 Objects: Celebrating 35 Years of Glasgow Women’s Library’.

Starting today, we’ll be sharing an object from each year of our story across our social media channels, exploring the people, projects, ideas and moments that have helped shape GWL over the past 35 years.

And this is just the beginning.

On 9th October, our new exhibition, ‘12,784 Days in 35 Objects’ will open at Glasgow Women’s Library, bringing all 35 objects together in celebration of our history, our community and the journey that has brought us here.

Our first object takes us right back to the beginning: Object #1 – the original 1991 opening poster.

GWL was founded because women’s lives, experiences and contributions were too often missing from the historical record – and 35 years on, that mission remains as important as ever.

From our beginnings as a grassroots project to the unique library, archive and museum we are today, our story has always been shaped by the people who believe women’s history matters.

As we celebrate what we’ve achieved together, we’re also looking ahead to the next 35 years.

Help shape the next 35 years. Join our Circle of Friends: https://friends.womenslibrary.org.uk

Follow along as we uncover 35 objects and 35 years of GWL history.

21/09/2026

20/09/2026

We’re incredibly excited to be hosting BBC Woman’s Hour at to mark 80 years on air.

On 7 October, Woman’s Hour will broadcast a special programme from GWL, celebrating eight decades of women’s voices, stories and experiences. The programme will look back through the BBC archives, revisiting the conversations and women who have challenged attitudes, driven change and transformed lives.

This feels like a particularly special moment as we celebrate our own 35th birthday this year. For 80 years, Woman’s Hour has been listening to women and putting their voices centre stage - something that strongly resonates with the work we do every day at Glasgow Women’s Library.

We can’t wait to welcome the Woman’s Hour team to GWL and celebrate this incredible milestone together.

Listen on BBC Radio 4, Wednesday 7 October at 10am.

To mark this milestone, we looked back through the BBC Archives to uncover the stories and voices behind the BBC's flagship programme made by and for women

19/09/2026

Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival 2026: Today at Glasgow Women's Library!

Join us at Glasgow Women’s Library for an afternoon exploring some of the feminist and q***r days and nights out that have shaped Glasgow’s cultural life.

From 1pm-3pm, explore our Open Archive: Feminist Days & Nights Out, showcasing posters, badges, flyers, vinyl records and more, telling the story of the exhibitions, Pride celebrations, gigs, club nights and community events that have brought women together over the past 35 years. No need to book! Drop in.

At 3pm join us for a guided tour to learn about the history of our 120-year old building which was originally built for the Bridgeton Public Library.

GWL moved into the building in 2013 after a major refurbishment, which made the building more accessible and able to host specialist collections preserving women’s lives and histories. In these tours you’ll get a peek behind the scenes at our archive and museum stores, hear about GWL’s journey to where we are today, and of course learn about the rich history of our building.

You can also experience Ruth Ewan’s A Feminist Jukebox of People Trying to Change the World, celebrating the music that has soundtracked activism, friendship and collective joy.
And, pick up one of our new programmes brimming with exciting events and exhibitions to inspire you through autumn and winter!

Saturday 19 September
1–3pm – Open Archive: Feminist Days & Nights Out (drop-in)
3pm – Building Tour (drop-in)

No booking required – just drop in and join us.

Come along, explore Glasgow Women’s Library, and kick off a packed autumn with us.

19/09/2026

TODAY //
Open Archive: Feminist Days & Nights Out
Saturday 19th September,
1pm to 3pm
Free
Open to all

For Glasgow’s Doors Open Days, we’re showcasing archival treasures that capture social and cultural events that have brought women together over the decades.
Discover posters, badges, flyers and more, exploring themes including Pride, music and dance events, women’s exhibitions, activism and community organising.

From fundraisers to celebrations and club nights, find out how Glasgow Women’s Library has been at the heart of feminist and q***r social life for 35 years, creating spaces for connection, creativity and collective joy.

Book via the link in bio, or simply drop in from 1pm! Free, all welcome!

Glasgow Women’s Library, 23 Landressy St, Bridgeton, G40 1BP

18/09/2026

Today //

Autumn Programme Launch & Birthday Celebration

Friday 18 September, 11am–1pm

We’re heading into autumn with a brand-new programme of exhibitions, workshops, events and activities, and we’d love you to join us for its launch!

To coincide with Glasgow’s Doors Open Days we’re opening our doors on this morning for a special celebration.

Kick off a weekend of exploring Glasgow’s brilliant venues with a visit to ours. Come along for a cuppa, try your hand at a craft with support from our facilitators, browse our journal sale, join a building tour and find out what we’ve got coming up this autumn.

Our staff and volunteers will be around throughout the event to welcome you, answer questions and help you get to know the Library.

Event schedule

11am – Welcome, tea, coffee and refreshments
11.15am – Building tours
12pm – Sharing what’s coming up

Our craft-making and journal sale tables will run throughout the event.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you and launch our autumn programme together!

17/09/2026

Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival 2026: This weekend!

Join us at Glasgow Women’s Library as we celebrate our 35th birthday with a weekend exploring the feminist and q***r days and nights out that have shaped Glasgow’s cultural life.

Tomorrow, Friday 18 September, we’re launching our Autumn Programme alongside Glasgow’s Doors Open Days Festival, with a morning of activities at our 120-year-old Bridgeton home.

From 11am–1pm, drop in to:

• Explore our building and discover the history of our home
• Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of our archive and museum stores
• Join a Building Tour
• Grab a cuppa and try your hand at a craft with support from our facilitators
• Browse our journal sale
• Meet staff and volunteers and find out what’s coming up this autumn

Then on Saturday 19 September, explore our Open Archive: Feminist Days & Nights Out, showcasing posters, badges, flyers, vinyl records and more, telling the story of the exhibitions, Pride celebrations, gigs, club nights and community events that have brought women together over the past 35 years.

You can also experience Ruth Ewan’s A Feminist Jukebox of People Trying to Change the World, celebrating the music that has soundtracked activism, friendship and collective joy.

Friday 18 September
11am–12pm – Building Tour (drop-in)
11am–1pm – Autumn Programme Launch (drop-in)

Saturday 19 September
1–3pm – Open Archive: Feminist Days & Nights Out (drop-in)
3pm – Building Tour (drop-in)

No booking required – just drop in and join us.

Come along, explore Glasgow Women’s Library, and kick off a packed autumn with us.

15/09/2026

Open Archive: Feminist Days & Nights Out
Saturday 19th September,
1pm to 3pm
Free
Open to all

For Glasgow’s Doors Open Days, we’re showcasing archival treasures that capture social and cultural events that have brought women together over the decades.
Discover posters, badges, flyers and more, exploring themes including Pride, music and dance events, women’s exhibitions, activism and community organising.

From fundraisers to celebrations and club nights, find out how Glasgow Women’s Library has been at the heart of feminist and q***r social life for 35 years, creating spaces for connection, creativity and collective joy.

Book via the link in bio, or simply drop in from 1pm!

15/09/2026

We’re pleased to announce that internationally acclaimed photographer, filmmaker and writer Joy Gregory will deliver the 2026 Maud Sulter Annual Lecture at The Glasgow School of Art this October.

Taking place as part of Black History Month Scotland, Joy will explore her long-standing connection with the late artist, writer and cultural historian Maud Sulter, as well as her own pioneering career exploring identity, history, representation and cultural difference.

Joy’s connection with Maud began through Shining Lights, the groundbreaking anthology of Black British women’s photography originally conceived in 1987 and edited by Gregory for its publication in 2024.

The lecture comes at an exciting moment in Gregory’s career, with her major retrospective, Catching Flies with Honey, opening at Arnolfini in Bristol this October.

The Maud Sulter Annual Lecture with Joy Gregory
Reid Lecture Theatre, The Glasgow School of Art
Thursday 22 October 2026, 5–6.30pm

Presented by Glasgow Women’s Library in partnership with The Glasgow School of Art, Many Studios and Street Level Photoworks.

Book your place:

This year we’re inviting Joy Gregory, an award winning visual artist, photographer and educator.