BIBLIOPHILES will be basking in a book sale bonanza this month as stoic volunteers fight to keep a research library in Harlech.

The Meirionnydd town was rocked last year by the announcement the town’s historic college building is to close, causing mass uncertainty for dozens of students and staff.

Although the site has been subject to much turmoil, especially when considering the closure of Theatr Ardudwy due to health and safety reasons earlier this year, one group has been determined to save the college’s literary heritage.

Coleg Harlech library is home to over 10,000 books with some of them privately donated by the Countess of Snowdon or Queen Mary, or dating back centuries.

However, these books will now have to be relocated as the future of the college building is uncertain and the building storing the archive is becoming increasingly dilapidated.

Sheila Maxwell, treasurer of Harlech Old Library and Institute, a century-old charity in Harlech, is determined to keep at least some of the collection in the town, whilst some will be donated to libraries across Wales and others will be sold.

“We have been in contact with Bangor University and the National Library of Wales to consider taking as many books as they can,” she told the Cambrian News.

“Unfortunately they just don’t have the space or resources to sort through the whole collection so we’re doing what we can.

“We will be holding a book sale at the site on the weekend of 20-21 October.

“On Saturday, books will be valued at £2 and £1 on the Sunday - some books may be sold at a higher price but there will be something for everyone I suspect.

“All the money raised will be used to keep a reference library open in Harlech and we have a long term ambition to open up a ‘people’s library’, where former Coleg students and staff can share their stories of the site.

“It’s all a terrible shame but at least there will be somewhere here where people can reflect back on the history of the college and keep its legacy alive.”

The book sale will run between 10.30am and 4pm on 20 and 21 October, at Coleg Harlech, St David’s Hill LL46 2PU.

See this week’s north editions, in shops and online tomorrow