The Old Library (Welsh: Yr Hen Lyfrgell) is a Grade II* listed building in Cardiff, Wales.

It has been used for other purposes since that time and is currently the home of the Cardiff Story museum and (since 2021) the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

[3] The original entrance to the building featured a corridor lined with ornamental wall tiles, designed to depict the four seasons and night and morning.

[6] In 1879 another option, to rebuild and extend the existing Free Library at the Cardiff Market, was rejected in favour of a Council-owned site on Working Street (which joins The Hayes), with rent-free incentives.

The day was declared a public holiday,[8] with the town's shops closed and a procession of over 5000 people making their way through the streets to the library, then dispersing at the Cardiff Arms Park.

[9] This was officially re-opened by the Prince of Wales on 27 July 1896[3] at a ceremony in front of almost 700 people assembled in the new reading room.

After receiving £9 million in grants, a new 'glass box' entrance was created on the east side of the building and the original tiled corridor was closed.

In 2015 plans were announced to convert the first floor gallery into a Welsh language centre, with a cafe bar, run by Clwb Ifor Bach, book shop and classrooms.

[20] In November 2021 the Old Library building was leased in full to the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD).

[21] In 2023 RWCMD announced a 5-year plan to transform the library building, with help from a £2 million donation froma local businessman.