Garrison Library, Public library in Gibraltar
The Garrison Library is a public library in Gibraltar housed in a neoclassical building with approximately 45,000 books. The collection includes rare volumes covering local history, culture, and travel records from different periods.
Captain John Drinkwater Bethune founded the library in 1793 on the former site of the Spanish Governors' residence. The building was established at this historical location and has shaped cultural life in Gibraltar since then.
The library displays lithographs and art prints throughout its rooms that document Gibraltar's military past and social development. This collection tells the story of different periods that have shaped the community through its diversity.
The library is open Monday through Friday with different hours depending on the season: in winter it opens in the morning and closes in the afternoon, while summer weeks from June to August have adjusted times. The neoclassical building is centrally located and easy to access, with spacious interior rooms for visitors.
In the front garden stands a dragon tree dating from the Spanish period when seafarers brought this plant to Gibraltar. The tree is a living remnant of those early maritime connections and provides a glimpse into the plant history of the peninsula.
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