Due to continued cuts in government funding, we need to make at least £185,000 worth of cuts to our Library Services and Community Resource Centres. From Monday November 18, 2024 we’re launching a new consultation about this. Find out general information about this consultation and how to have your say: 

The consultation will run from November 18 until January 11, 2025 to allow time for the team, customers, residents and stakeholders to respond.

What do we know?

Wrexham County has a resident population of 135,394. 

9.7% of the population are able to speak and read Welsh. 

Wrexham Library Service and Community Resource Centres do collect and hold data on customers preferred language of communication in terms of the Welsh and English language. 

Wrexham Libraries provides access to Welsh language services, cultural activities, resources, activities and events to reflect the needs of the local Welsh learner and Welsh speaking communities.

Using and promoting the Welsh Language 

Cymraeg 2050 is the Welsh Government’s Strategy for the promotion and facilitation of the use of the Welsh language. It sets out a long-term approach to achieving a target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050. The aim of the strategy is to a reach a position of where the Welsh language is an integral part of all aspects of everyday life. 

Wrexham Council’s Welsh Language Promotion Strategy (2022-2027) supports the Welsh Government’s vision and will become the cornerstone of the Council’s contribution towards meeting the target outlined in the Welsh Government’s strategy. 

Wrexham’s Council Plan includes the Welsh Language and Culture as a strategic planning principle. It recognises that Wales has two official languages, Welsh and English, and that services and information should be equally available in both. Services and information that the Council provides are available bilingually. The authority is also committed to raising the profile of the Welsh language. 

Staff

The library service team includes Welsh speakers who actively promote spoken Welsh on the telephone and in person to all. This in turn encourages Welsh conversations in our public libraries.

Wrexham Library Service have fluent Welsh language speakers in the Pop Up, Rhos and Wrexham City Library. They encourage colleagues to learn Welsh by promoting Brawddeg yr Wythnos (sentence of the week). 

Our Welsh language library staff select Welsh language materials for all libraries.

Bilingual Housing Estate Office Service 

At Gwersyllt Community Resource Centre.

Resources

Welsh language library resources are available online (24/7); we have an extensive range of Welsh E-Audio and Welsh E-Books. Our digital library offer is bilingual, customers are able to select Welsh or English preference when using some of the online apps. Our social media channels are in two languages or bilingual.  

A large collection of Welsh stock is available from Wrexham City Library and smaller comprehensive collections are available in all branch libraries, including the Pop Up library who visit rural and isolated communities throughout the county borough.

Wrexham Library Service produce a Welsh language newsletter for our Welsh language speakers, learners and stakeholders to showcase:

• Welsh language library resources
• local and national Welsh language library initiatives
• local and national Welsh language activities and events

Events

The library service promotes, delivers and hosts Welsh Language sessions for a variety of ages throughout the County Borough, we deliver:

Welsh Author events 

In Rhos and Wrexham City Library including Wrexham Carnival of Words literary festival.  Working with Siop y Siswrn, Mold, selling Welsh language books at these events.

Clwb Cwtsh 

In Wrexham Library with Mudiad Meithrin, an informal programme focusing on speaking Welsh with young children.  

Grwp Sgwrsio Sessions (Conversational Welsh) 

In Rhos, Ruabon and Wrexham Library 

Welsh Language ‘School Visits’ 

To schools who register their interest. In the last twelve months we have delivered sessions in Coedpoeth Library to Ysgol Bryn Tabor, in Rhos Library to Ysgol Hooson and in Wrexham Library to Ysgol Bodhyfryd. Ysgol Min y Ddôl are regular visitors to Cefn Mawr library during term time and borrow Welsh language books to read for pleasure and teachers will hold story times for them during their visits.

Magi Ann sessions (dependant on budget with Menter iaith) 

In all libraries during term time and Wrexham Carnival of Words literary festival.

Seren a Sparc Sessions 

In Cefn Mawr, Chirk, Ruabon and Wrexham libraries

Stori a Chan Sessions (Welsh story and song sessions) 

In Coedpoeth, Rhos and Wrexham Libraries and Cefn Mawr Ti a Fi sessions with Mudiad Meithrin in Cefn Mawr Library. 

Weekly Welsh Language Classes 

Held in Gwersyllt Community Resource Centre, delivered by Coleg Cambria. 

Welsh Reading Groups 

In Overton and Wrexham Libraries. 

Why Learn the Lingo? 

For Welsh learners at Wrexham Library working in partnership with Golwg, Lingo Newydd magazines and Doctor Cymraeg.

The re-shaping of Community Resource Centres and Libraries

The review may impact our team, partners, residents and communities that use their local service in terms of accessing culture, heritage and the Welsh language. 

The review could reduce the fostering and development of the Welsh language in a border county and impact on the participation and delivery of literacy, arts, sports, education and recreation unless a suitable alternative provision and or provider can be secured. 

Any reduction in library and community resource provision will hollow-out the added value of the services provided, including early language development through the Welsh language, reading groups, conversational groups, author events (for example).  

Wrexham Council will investigate and work with communities, interested stakeholders and volunteers to implement alternative methods of delivery where possible. 

The Libraries and Community Resource Centre managed by Wrexham Council will adhere to the Welsh Language Standards and ensure Welsh is not treated less favourably than English.

Mitigating measure in terms of the Welsh Language Standards

Wrexham Council and our Welsh Language Strategic Officer is committed and will: 

• Work with interested third parties to manage and continue to deliver the current Welsh language provision in each library and resource centre location, by working with other organisations, such as Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam and volunteers. 
• Work with interested third parties to manage and continue to deliver the current access to Welsh language books and resources provided by the Pop Up library through working with other organisations such as Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam and volunteers.

Welsh Language Partner Organisations 

A list of organisations who support and promote the Welsh language either in a voluntarily or through their governance and or strategic role in ensuring compliance with legislative requirements. 

Many work in partnership with Wrexham Library and Information Service and in our Five Community Resource Centres:

• Coleg Cambria 
• Golwg / Lingo Newydd 
• Local Authority Primary, Secondary and Specialist Schools 
• Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam 
• Merched Y Wawr 
• Mudiad Ysgol Meithrin 
• Siop Y Siswrn 
• Urdd Gobaith Cymru – Fflint a Wrecsam 
• Welsh Language Commissioner 
• Wrexham Public Services Board