Brief History
As with quite a number of town libraries in Scotland, Alexandria Library began its life in a building designed as an "institute" and funded by a Victorian public benefactor. The benefactor in this case was William Ewing Gilmour, and the institute (often just referred to in the past as "The Gilmour Institute") was erected in Gilmour Street (also named after him) and opened in 1884.
An extension to the building was built in the 1920s to accommodate a committee room and offices for the new Vale of Leven District Council. The library came to be administered as part of the County library service until Dunbartonshire County Council handed over control, in 1975, to the new Dumbarton District Council. As part of Dumbarton District Libraries, the Alexandria branch was completely refurbished in 1988 when more space became available in the Gilmour Institute after the Registry Office and other local authority staff had moved to new locations. Since 1996, the library has been operated by West Dunbartonshire Council.
Free Internet Access is available.
Local history material relating to the Vale of Leven area is available.
