Catholic National Library

The Catholic National Library (formerly the Catholic Central Library) is a large Catholic library founded in 1912. It is known for the its 70,000 books and periodicals, and the broad range of subjects it covers.

Since 1959 the library was housed in a building just behind Westminster Cathedral. In 1997 this building was sold off and the library's collection was threatened with being broken up. A campaign by some notable British Catholic writers helped to keep the collection intact. In 2007 the collection was rehoused at St Michael's Abbey, Farnborough, and was once again open to visitors.

In June 2007 the library changed its name from "Catholic Central Library" to "Catholic National Library". There were several reasons for this but the most important was to reflect more closely the library's role as a national resource.

The library houses mission registers which list baptisms, confirmations, marriages and deaths, these date back to as early as 1694. Typescripts and other printed books on loan from the Catholic Family History Society are also availiable at the library. The library also houses the Thomas Merton Collection, which is owned by the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

References

*cite news |first=Piers |last=McGrandle |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Roman Catholic fury at sale of historic library
url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4851083.html |work=The Independent - London |publisher= |date=June 29, 1997 |accessdate=2008-07-25
*cite news |first=SEBASTIAN |last=SHAKESPEARE |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Bushy tales |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-116948488.html |work=The Evening Standard (London, England) |publisher= |date=May 21, 2004 |accessdate=2008-07-25 |quote= The 33-year-old son of the Duke and Duchess of Kent is leading a campaign to save the Catholic Central Library in North London from closing down. ...
* [http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/experian/03424152 The Alacra Store – Catholic National Library]

External links

* [http://www.catholic-library.org.uk/ Catholic National Library]