The Catholic National Library (formerly the Catholic Central Library) is a large Roman Catholic

library A library is a collection of Book, books, and possibly other Document, materials and Media (communication), media, that is accessible for use by its members and members of allied institutions. Libraries provide physical (hard copies) or electron ...

previously located at St Michael's Abbey in

Farnborough, Hampshire Farnborough is a town located in the Rushmoor district of Hampshire, England. It has a population of around 57,486 as of the 2011 census and is an important centre of aviation, engineering and technology. The town is probably best known for it ...

, founded in 1912. In 2015 it was relocated to Durham University Library. It is known for its 70,000 books and periodicals, and the broad range of subjects it covers. It was a

registered charity A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, Religion, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definitio ...

under English law. The collection started in 1912 in the porch of St Mary Magdalene's Church in Bexhill-on-Sea, from the private library of an American, Mr William Reed-Lewis. It moved to Victoria, London in 1922 and was then established as the Catholic Central Library in 1936. In July 1959 the Friars of the Atonement took over its staffing and financing. 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 and noblemen helped to keep the collection intact. From 1997 the running was transferred to a board of Trustees. Premises were leased in Lancing Street, London. In 2007 the collection was rehoused at St Michael's Abbey, Farnborough, changed its name from Catholic Central Library to Catholic National Library, and was once again open to visitors. Access to the library in Farnborough closed on 27 June 2014.

References

External links

Catholic National Library
{{Authority control Benedictine monasteries in England Libraries in Hampshire Catholic Church in England and Wales 1912 establishments in England Charities based in Hampshire Farnborough, Hampshire Monastic libraries