The warden of a unique library in Wales is embarking on a micro tour of the United States.

Peter Francis, warden of Gladstones Library in Hawarden, Flintshire, is visiting Washington DC and Minneapolis in late November to meet the librarys American supporters and host talks on what makes the library so special.

Gladstones Library is Britains only Prime Ministerial library and the national memorial to William Gladstone the only man ever to have served as Great Britains Prime Minister four separate times.

Home to a unique collection of more than 250,000 printed items, around 32,000 of which were donated by the Grand Old Man himself, the library offers a comfortable, sociable and stimulating environment together with resources for creative study including renowned collections of theological, historical, cultural and political materials.

Gladstones Library is the only one of its kind in the world, explained Peter. Its a haven of peace and tranquillity; somewhere you can study, work and relax.

We have a lot of very good Friends in the USA and Im delighted to be able to come over and meet with them and to share our library and its treasures.

The library is housed in a magnificent Grade 1 listed building, first opened to the public in 1902.

Free to use, it is open to the public all year round. As well as the wonderful resource of the Library itself (the collection can be viewed online), visitors can sleep with books, attend and engage in stimulating courses and events and enjoy the Welsh countryside and welcome.

Peter said: We have serviced accommodation, a marvellous caf called Food for Thought and a wide ranging programme of courses and events.

You can learn Welsh, Greek, Latin or Hebrew in a week, listen to thought-provoking speakers like Dr Robin Meyers and Bishop Gene Robinson, or join our nine writers in residence at our literary festivals for readings and workshops throughout 2014.

Following its founder, the library seeks to be a centre of liberal education, thought and values. It is engaged in a project to re-define and re-understand what it means to be liberal (with a small l) in the contemporary world.

For further information, please contact enquiries@gladlib.org / 01244 532350. You can also follow Gladstones Library on Twitter @gladlib, visit the US Friends of Gladstone's Library Facebook page or find more information on the US Friends of Gladstones Library at www.gladstoneslibrary-us.com .

About Gladstones Library

Gladstones library is Britains only Prime Ministerial library, founded by Victorian statesman William Gladstone in 1889. Following his death in 1898, the library also became a national memorial to the four-time Prime Minister.

The library fulfills Gladstones vision of making his personal library, comprising 32,000 books, available to the public. Following his death in 1889, a public appeal to fund a permanent home for the collection raised 9,000, which coupled with an endowment of 40,000 from Gladstone himself, funded the imposing building present today, which opened on October 14 1902. The Gladstone family fulfilled the founders vision by funding the residential wing of the library, which welcomed its first resident on June 29 1906.

Today, Gladstones Library comprises a residential library and meeting place which is dedicated to dialogue, debate and learning for open-minded individuals and groups. In line with Gladstones liberal values, the librarys vast collection of more than 250,000 books and journals focuses on a broad range of literature and culture, with a particular focus on theology and Victorian studies. Gladstones Library also hosts a range of events, from book launches to seminars and courses on matters of cultural significance.

As well as its extensive collection of books, Gladstones library is also a peaceful, relaxing place to stay, with comfortable accommodation and soothing grounds to explore. The library also includes the Food for Thought restaurant, offering relaxed, ethical dining, as well as conference and meeting facilities.

About William Gladstone

Born December 29 1809, William Ewart Gladstone was one of the central political figures of the Victorian era, and the only man to hold the position of Prime Minister for four separate terms (3 December 1868 to 17 February 1874; 23 April 1880 to 9 June 1885; 1 February 1886 to 20 July 1886; 15 August 1982 to 2 March 1984). He was also Britains oldest Prime Minister, resigning from his fourth term in 1894 aged 84-years-old.

( Photos reproduced with permission from the Gladstone Library Pinterest account )