A Warm Welcome to Our New Warden - Croeso Andrea!

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Mae Warden NEWYDD wedi cymryd yr awenau mewn llyfrgell hanesyddol yng Ngogledd Cymru.

Yr wythnos hon, cafodd y Parchedig Dr Andrea Russell ei henwi fel y Warden newydd cyntaf yn Llyfrgell Gladstone ym Mhenarlâg, Sir y Fflint mewn 25 mlynedd - a hi hefyd yw'r ferch gyntaf i ymgymryd â'r rôl. 

Mae'r Llyfrgell yn enghraifft restredig Gradd I o bensaernïaeth Fictoraidd neo-Gothig ac mae'n enghraifft brin o lyfrgell breswyl. Mae ei 26 ystafell wely yn caniatáu i ymwelwyr gysgu yn yr un adeilad â'i chasgliadau archifol a llyfrau unigryw.

Daw'r Parchedig Dr Andrea Russell i Lyfrgell Gladstone o Esgobaeth Rhydychen lle bu'n Gyfarwyddwr Ffurfiant ar gyfer y Weinidogaeth.

Dywedodd: "Mae hon yn rôl unigryw ac rwy'n teimlo'n freintiedig i fod yma yn y Llyfrgell. Boed yn staff sy'n gweithio yma, yr ysgolheigion cenedlaethol a rhyngwladol sy'n dod i astudio neu'r rhai sy'n dod i ddarllen, ysgrifennu neu orffwys, mae pawb mor ymroddedig i'r lle hwn sy'n dathlu dysgu o bob math.

"Rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at gael sgyrsiau gyda chyfeillion y Llyfrgell, staff a gwesteion dros y misoedd nesaf fel y gallwn, gyda'n gilydd, ddirnad y bennod nesaf i Lyfrgell Gladstone. Gan adeiladu ar etifeddiaeth Peter Francis, does gen i ddim amheuaeth bod gan y Llyfrgell ddyfodol wych ac rwyf wrth fy modd i fod yn rhan ohono."

Wedi'i sefydlu'n wreiddiol ar ddiwedd yr 1800au, mae'r Llyfrgell yn cynnwys casgliad craidd o lyfrau a fu unwaith yn eiddo i William Ewart Gladstone a fu yn Brif Weinidog bedair gwaith.

Agorwyd yr adeilad presennol ym 1902 ac mae'n cynnwys tair ystafell ddarllen dawel bwrpasol sy'n hygyrch i Ddarllenwyr cofrestredig a gwesteion preswyl.

Mae'r llyfrgell yn cefnogi cyfres o ysgoloriaethau, digwyddiadau ac Awduron Preswyl ac mae wedi croesawu amrywiaeth o awduron, gan gynnwys Sarah Perry (The Essex Serpent), Michel Faber (The Crimson Petal and the White) a Stella Duffy (Theodora).

Dywedodd Patrick Derham, Cadeirydd Ymddiriedolwyr Llyfrgell Gladstone: "Rydyn ni'n falch iawn o groesawu'r Parchedig Dr Andrea Russell fel Warden newydd Llyfrgell Gladstone. "Mae gweledigaeth Andrea ar gyfer dyfodol Llyfrgell Gladstone yn cyd-fynd ag ethos ac egwyddorion arweiniol y sefydliad ac rydym yn edrych ymlaen yn fawr at weithio gyda hi."


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A NEW Warden has taken the helm at an historic library in North Wales.

This week the Revd. Dr Andrea Russell became the first new Warden at Gladstone’s Library in 25 years - and is also the first woman to take up the role - an historic moment for this unique place of learning.

The Library is a Grade I listed example of neo-Gothic Victorian architecture and is a rare example of a residential library, its 26 bedrooms allowing visitors to sleep in the same building as its unique archival and book collections.

The Revd. Dr Andrea Russell comes to Gladstone’s Library from the Oxford Diocese where she was Director of Formation for Ministry.

She said: “This is a unique role and I feel privileged to be here at the Library. Whether it is the staff who work here, the national and international scholars who come to study or those who come to read, write or rest, everyone is so committed to this place that celebrates learning in all its forms.

"I am very much looking forward to having conversations with friends of the Library, staff and guests over the coming months so that together we can discern the next chapter for Gladstone’s. Building on Peter Francis’ legacy, I have no doubt that the Library has a fabulous future and I am thrilled to be part of it.

Originally founded in the late 1800s, the Library includes a core collection of books once owned by four times Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone.

The current building was opened in 1902 and features three dedicated silent reading rooms accessible to registered Readers and residential guests.

The library supports a series of scholarships, events and Writer in Residencies and has hosted a range of writers, including Sarah Perry (The Essex Serpent), Michel Faber (The Crimson Petal and the White) and Stella Duffy (Theodora).

Patrick Derham, the Chair of Trustees of Gladstone’s Library said: "We are very pleased to welcome Revd. Dr Andrea Russell as the new Warden of Gladstone's Library. “Andrea's vision for the future of Gladstone's Library is in keeping with the ethos and guiding principles of the institution and we very much look forward to working with her."