Free Public Library, Library Road, Gelliwastad Grove, Pontypridd

PONTYPRIDD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY - BUILDERS who wish to submit a TENDER for the ABOVE WORK are requested to send their names to the Architects, Messrs Potts, Sulman, and Hennings, 1, Furnival’s Inn, Holborn, London, E.C., by whom quantities will be forwarded. The Local Board do not bind themselves to accept the lowest or any tender. [South Wales Daily News 9 March 1888 page 1 – contracts]

THE OPENING OF THE PONTIPRIDD FREE LIBRARY. The opening of the New Free Library Building at Pontypridd on Thursday se'nnight, the opening ceremony being performed by Mrs D. W. Williams, of Fairfield,

The Free Libraries Act was adopted in Pontypridd some four years ago, and up to the present the library has had its location in the Town Hall buildings. This accommodation, however, has been found to be altogether inadequate, and the Local Board found itself compelled to provide a new structure. The new library stands on a site in Gelliwastad Grove, generously presented for the purpose by the late Mr Llewelyn Thomas, of The Heath; and has been erected at a cost of £2,000 from plans prepared by Messrs Henning Bros. (sic), of Furnival's Inn, London. The entrance to the library consists of a tiled porch and an inner lobby with two sets of swing doors, effectually cutting off any draughts. Directly in front, on entering the inner lobby, is the borrowers' counter, fitted with an indicator, showing at a glance whether a volume is in the library or out on loan. On the left-hand side is the staircase leading to the mineralogical museum and the librarian's apartments on the first floor. On the right is the newspaper and reading room, having an area of nearly 1,500 square feet. This room is amply lighted by a skylight extending the length of the room, with an inner ceiling light to prevent down draughts. On one side is the counter of the lending library and an entrance to the committee room, and the other is taken up by the magazine, reference library, and ladies' room. These are separated from the reading room by a glazed screen about 7 feet high. The walls are lined with bookcases, giving together with those in the lending library accommodation for about 12,000 volumes. Under the entrance porch and lobby is the heating chamber for warming the building by means of hot-water pipes. Between the ladies' room and the porch is a small room for the use of bookbinder. The whole of the site has not been utilised, a space having been left at the back for a School of Art, the designs for which were made at the same time as the library. The external walls are faced with Newbridge stones, with box ground Bath stone dressing. The builder is Mr I M. Julian, of Morgan-street, Pontypridd and the clerk of works, Mr E. Hind, of Coedpenmaen Road, Pontypridd. 
[The Pontypridd Chronicle and Workman's News 5 December 1890 page 6]

PONTYPRIDD - On Thursday, the 27th ult., the Pontypridd Free Library was opened. The building, which was erected at a cost of £2,000, from designs by Messrs. Hennings (sic), of Furnival's Inn, London, situated in Gelliwastad Grove. Mr. Julian, of Pontypridd, carried out the contract. The entrance consists of a tiled porch and an inner lobby with two sets of swing doors. Directly in front, on entering the inner lobby, is the borrowers' counter, fitted with an indicator. On the left-hand side is the staircase leading to the mineralogical museum and the caretaker's apartments on the first floor. On the right is the newspaper and reading-room, having an area of 1,500 square feet. This room is lighted by a skylight extending the length of the room, with an inner ceiling light to prevent down-draughts. On one side is the counter of the lending library and an entrance to the committee-room, and the other is taken up by the magazine and reference library and ladies' room. These are separated from the reading-room by glazed screen 7 feet high. The walls are lined with bookcases, giving, together with those in the lending library, accommodation for 12,000 volumes. Under the entrance porch and lobby is the heating chamber for warming by hot water pipes. Between the ladies' room and the porch is a small room for the use of the book-binder. The external walls are faced with Newbridge stone, with Box-ground Bath stone dressing. [Building News 5 December 1890 page 807]