Garrison Library
Encyclopedia
The Garrison Library was founded in Gibraltar
in 1793 by Colonel John Drinkwater Bethune
and officially opened in 1804 by the Duke of Kent
. The library served as the headquarters and archive service of the Gibraltar Chronicle
, the world's second oldest English language
newspaper
. The library is funded by a private trust
rather than government.
In 2006 the editorial offices of the Gibraltar Chronicle
moved to new premises in Watergate House, and the print works relocated in 2007 to New Harbours. The archive currently remains at the Garrison Library.
The Garrison is a modest library of 45,000 books, including many rare volumes. There is an emphasis on the value of culture and travel in the library and it offers an excellent local history collection. Many lithographs and art prints are held here and even the furnishings are said to have interesting historical backgrounds.
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
in 1793 by Colonel John Drinkwater Bethune
John Drinkwater Bethune
Colonel John Drinkwater Bethune , born John Drinkwater, was an English army officer and military historian, and was well known for his journal, which he kept during the Great Siege of Gibraltar.- Life and career :...
and officially opened in 1804 by the Duke of Kent
Duke of Kent
Duke of Kent is a title which has been created various times in the peerages of Great Britain and the United Kingdom, most recently as a royal dukedom for the fourth son of George V.-Pre-history:...
. The library served as the headquarters and archive service of the Gibraltar Chronicle
Gibraltar Chronicle
The Gibraltar Chronicle is a national newspaper published in Gibraltar since 1801. It became a daily in 1821. It is Gibraltar's oldest established daily newspaper and the world's second oldest English language newspaper to have been in print continuously...
, the world's second oldest English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
. The library is funded by a private trust
Trust company
A trust company is a corporation, especially a commercial bank, organized to perform the fiduciary of trusts and agencies. It is normally owned by one of three types of structures: an independent partnership, a bank, or a law firm, each of which specializes in being a trustee of various kinds of...
rather than government.
In 2006 the editorial offices of the Gibraltar Chronicle
Gibraltar Chronicle
The Gibraltar Chronicle is a national newspaper published in Gibraltar since 1801. It became a daily in 1821. It is Gibraltar's oldest established daily newspaper and the world's second oldest English language newspaper to have been in print continuously...
moved to new premises in Watergate House, and the print works relocated in 2007 to New Harbours. The archive currently remains at the Garrison Library.
The Garrison is a modest library of 45,000 books, including many rare volumes. There is an emphasis on the value of culture and travel in the library and it offers an excellent local history collection. Many lithographs and art prints are held here and even the furnishings are said to have interesting historical backgrounds.