Brief History
Clydebank Library is housed in a "Carnegie building". This is one of the many late 19th and early 20th century public library buildings in Scotland that owe their existence to the financial generosity of the Scottish-born American philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919). He offered the Clydebank Town Council £10,000 towards the cost on condition that it adopt the Public Library Acts.
A. McInnes Gardner of a Glasgow firm of architects won a competition for the design of the new building, officially opened on 1st October 1913. In 2003 its 90th anniversary was commemorated with a special exhibition in the basement corridor, beside the reference and local history department.
The interior has had a number of refurbishments over the years while the imposing classical exterior has remained virtually unchanged. The library has operated within three different local authorities since it opened. Today it is the main public library for that part of the West Dunbartonshire Council area stretching from Old Kilpatrick in the west to the boundary with Glasgow on the east.
Free Internet Access is available.
Local history materials and archives covering the Clydebank area are a strong feature.
Exhibitions of local history, arts or museum items regularly take place.
