THE Welsh Government is to give the National Library of Wales over £2 million of funding to safeguard jobs at the Aberystwyth institution.

Following concerns of job losses at the National Library and a petition which drew almost 14,000 signatures calling for an increased funding package, the Welsh Government has announced a new £2.25 million package that will safeguard jobs and ‘deliver new strategic priorities.

The money comes as part of a £6.2 million package which will see £3.95 million go towards Amgueddfa Cymru.

In a statement, the Welsh Government said the funding for the National Library also includes £0.75m to accelerate the implementation of the findings of a Tailored Review, published late last year.

The review found shortcomings in NLW’s management structure, which was “small and lacked sufficient key skills such as commercial expertise and a sufficient understanding of digital technology.”

The review noted that there had been “no strategic board-led decisions on cost reduction” in the past 10 years, “even though this was clearly one of the biggest challenges facing NLW.”

The review also found that the National Library of Wales “should not shrink from looking at radical options going forward” and that “it should increase the pace of the digital agenda” and “review the marketing functions to see if more income could be generated.”

“The leadership at board and senior team level needed to have, between them, the rounded skills needed to deliver change,” the review found and that “urgent attention should be given to the Library’s financial needs and that the National Library should outline its suggestions for adequate budgetary provision over the next five years” to the Welsh Government.

Announcing the funding boost, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas said: “I am pleased to announce this funding which will safeguard and support two of our most important cultural institutions during this very challenging period.

"We have been in continuous contact with the Library and with Amgueddfa Cymru for quite some time, and are taking steps to protect jobs and to ensure the sustainability of these bodies, who are responsible for caring for our national collections on behalf of the people of Wales.

“Since the publication of the findings of the Tailored Review, the Library has progressed significantly with the action plan to implement the review recommendations – this momentum and a focus on what needs to be done has allowed us to develop the necessary implementation budget.”

Rebecca Evans MS, Minister of Finance and Trefnydd added: “I am pleased to confirm this support despite one of the most challenging budget settlements Wales has faced. “This package will address immediate challenges and allows both Amgueddfa Cymru and the National Library the time and space to take forward new plans to ensure greater stability for the long term.

"This will include progress on sustainability, digital transformation and broader outreach and engagement activity with the communities of Wales.”

Meri Huws, President, National Library of Wales, said: “I welcome the Welsh Government’s decision to provide this additional funding to the Library, which means that we will be able to address the main recommendations of the Tailored Review as well as put our exciting new Strategic Plan in action."