Swansea Library opened in the early years of the 20th century. With a successful economy based on heavy industry it seemed the right time for the town to start to improve the facilities available to its citizens. The library formed part of a new building that included an art school and central police station.

With an art gallery opposite and the train station close at hand Swansea could be seen as a town that was improving standards for the hordes of workers drawn from afar by its vibrant economy. The difficult years of economic decline in the coal and metal industries remained some way off.

In 2006 the library closed unexpectedly - and hopefully temporarily - following the discovery of a potentially dangerous sky light above the reference library. In the mid term a plan is underway to relocate the library to the 1982 built County Hall at Swansea giving an opportunity to bring 21st century standards to a long established service.