The visitor’s book which lies open on the reception desk at Glasgow Women’s Library tells its own story.

Messages of love and support from all over the world fill the pages.

“This family came from Los Angeles – here’s a message from Kuwait – and from Switzerland, Wales, Argentina….,” says senior manager Sue John, in awe.

“This is a Newcastle postcode and look – there’s a Birmingham one, and London – do I sound like a postcode geek? Probably. But I’m just amazed by the effect the Women’s Library has on so many people from all over the world…”

A journey of joy and revelation - the first 25 years of Glasgow Women’s Library have been occasionally frustrating, often challenging, but never dull.

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This much-loved institution – described recently by Scotland’s First Minister as a ‘national treasure’ – celebrates its 25th anniversary this month, kicking off a year of events and activities in style.

Current Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year, GWL co-founder and Lifelong Learning and Creative Development Manager Adele Patrick, believes the library’s success is down to the thousands of learners, visitors, donors, volunteers and staff who have supported it over the last quarter of a century.

She explains: “Their combined vision, investment and trust in Glasgow Women’s Library has enabled it to grow into the UK’s only accredited museum of women’s history and today’s beautiful, vibrant and welcoming resource.”

Fellow founder and the library’s Enterprise Development Manager Sue John is temporarily – and uncharacteristically - speechless when asked to describe what the last 25 years has been like.

“Crikey – complete joy and revelation, a steep learning curve, a rollercoaster,” she shakes her head.

“It was tough in the early days – and very brave, to set up something so clearly feminist at a time when there was a real feminist backlash.

“But we ploughed on, through economic downturns and political turmoil, in draughty tenements with no heating, because above all, there was zillions of grass roots support. So we knew we were doing the right thing.

“We had to take risks.”

Glasgow Women’s Library grew out of an arts organisation Women in Profile, which was set up in 1987 with the aim of ensuring Glasgow’s year as the European City of Culture in 1990 included plenty of representations from women.

It began life in Garnethill, then moved to Trongate and eventually settled in its current home on Landressy Street in Bridgeton, officially opened by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last year.

It now has 22 staff and around 80 volunteers and was recently awarded Recognised Collections of National Significance status by Museum Galleries Scotland. It regularly hosts conferences, book launches and fundraising events.

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“When we moved here, we had around 10,000 visitors a year – that has leapt up to 20,000,” says Sue. “We are aiming to double that again, potentially hitting the 50,000 mark in the near future.

“We are also working on our permanent collection, which will be put together by community curators. We really do feel that the decisions about what goes into that definitive collection should be made by the people who know us best – our adult literacy learners, our BME groups, our LGBT community.”

The 25th anniversary celebrations will also put library users at the heart of the programme, with a fun line-up including writing competitions, workshops, exhibitions and events.

Herland: Silver Wear kicks things off on Friday (September 23) – this silver-themed party features live music from Horse, performance poetry from Heir of the Cursed, DJ Gyalstas and a sparkling line-up of guests including artist Katharine Macfarlane and writers Zoe Strachan and Louise Welsh.

Other events planned for the months ahead include Flash Fiction Fridays, running until December 16, where GWL fans will be encouraged to write a story or poem in 120 characters or fewer on the theme of silver, 25 years or birthdays for social media; and Bold Types, a creative writing competition showcase, on November 25. Writers can submit short stories and poems on the theme of ’25 years’ before November 10 and shortlisted entrants will be invited along to read their entries in front of a panel of judges.

Running until October 8, the anniversary exhibition Recognition and Reflection celebrates 25 years of collecting and making women’s history at Glasgow Women’s Library – find out more in tomorrow’s Evening Times.

“We’re hoping to encourage people to become Friends of the library too – we want to make sure we are here for the next 25 years,” smiles Sue.

“And we’ll be lining up a host of well-known faces on the website to wish us a happy birthday every month too.”

The celebrations come just four years after the library celebrated its ‘coming of age’, as Sue explains.

“We did such a lot for our 21st birthday that we talked about whether we would be justified in having another huge celebration so soon afterwards,” she says.

“But so much has happened to us in those four years – our relocation, a £1.4m renovation of our building, gaining national museum status, Adele winning Scotswoman of the Year – that it felt right to celebrate again.

“It has been a rollercoaster – but I’m very proud to have played a part in the story of the last 25 years.”

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The story is far from over, of course. Glasgow Women’s Library has never been just for women and now, in the light of its national museum status, it is neither simply a library nor just for Glasgow.

“Maybe it is time to have a conversation about our title,” smiles Sue. “We have talked about revisiting it before, but then we remember that there is 25 years of goodwill behind our name.”

The new premises, in the old Carnegie library in Bridgeton, has helped boost numbers, as Sue explains.

“It has been very humbling to win so many awards for the building – and that in itself has brought in a whole new audience,” she adds.

“We’re very grateful for that and for the fact we continue to attract new supporters. People fall in love with Glasgow Women’s Library for all kinds of reasons.”