THERE is a noticeboard in the Glasgow Women's Library, covered in post-its and handwritten notes, which is labelled simply: 'The Future'.

THERE is a noticeboard in the Glasgow Women's Library, covered in post-its and handwritten notes, which is labelled simply: 'The Future'.

It's full of suggestions, comments, opinions and - just like almost everything else in this building, which is a treasure trove of books and artefacts celebrating women's lives in Scotland - it belongs to the people who have made the library what it is.

Glasgow Women's Library, tucked away in an unassuming tenement on a sidestreet in the Merchant City, is on the verge of national status, and a move into a stunning, purpose-built new home at the Mitchell Library. It is recruiting for staff, including new board members and an archivist who can properly record and conserve the 20,000 books and 50,000 artefacts held in its collection.

'The Future', then, is bright.

But, as strategic development manager Sue John explains, in all of the consultation process for the move, one thing has been made crystal clear by the women - and men - who use and work in the library.

"They want to make sure we don't lose the warmth and personality of the place, the accessibility, the inclusion, the friendliness," says Sue.

"The people who come here feel a real sense of ownership of the place, and we don't want that to disappear when we move."

That sense of ownership is everywhere - it's in an old table, transformed by painting and poetry over many weeks by a young artist; it's in the ornaments and decorations which fill every available shelf, and the brightly-coloured Mexican paper cutouts hanging from the ceiling. It's in a pink wooden chair, decorated with the instruction: "Sit on it, think about it, then go and do it."

And it's in the boxes - and boxes and boxes - of stuff donated to the library over the decades from people who recognise the importance of having such an important social history resource here in Glasgow.

The collection is diverse - from a suffragette clock from around 1911 and knitting patterns of the 1930s, to every publication produced in the UK by the now disbanded Equal Opportunities Commission, it paints a remarkable picture of women's lives over the decades.

One of Sue's favourite artefacts is an Edwardian parlour game called Panko, or Votes for Women.

"It's a card game, and you have the suffragettes versus the anti-suffragettes," she smiles. "I like the idea of Edwardian ladies and gentlemen sitting around their drawing room tables playing this little game - because I doubt working class people would have had the time to sit around playing it!"

The library opened its doors in a tiny shop in Garnethill in 1991, unfunded and staffed entirely by volunteers. It grew out of the women's arts-orientated project, Women in Profile, which aimed to ensure women had a voice in the City of Culture programming. It has moved home twice since then - firstly into premises on the Trongate and then to Parnie Street, as the staff prepare for the move to the Mitchell.

Sue, 46, was one of the original volunteers to sign up. She came to Glasgow from Manchester to study fine art printmaking at the art school.

"I thought the whole idea of the library was fantastic, and once I'd joined, I stayed," she smiles. "That's true of a lot of people - once you walk in here, it's hard to leave."

Once the newly advertised positions are filled, the library will have 12 staff, and in addition to its collection, it runs an impressive programme of learning opportunities including adult literacy and numeracy classes, English language teaching and confidence-building workshops.

"That programme is at the heart of what we do," explains Sue. "It's about helping and supporting women, their families and the wider community."

Funding is a big issue at the women's library - Glasgow City Council supports the lifelong learning work, Sue's post is funded by the Scottish Government and other staff posts are funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, but at best, as Sue explains, it is precarious'.

"Not having core funding can make things very stressful and uncertain," she agrees.

"And yes, it is ambitious, to try to raise the £1.5million we need for the move to the Mitchell. But we are very determined. In 2011, we will celebrate our 20th anniversary and we would love to be open at the Mitchell by then."

A major appeal is already underway. "We have launched our Women on the Shelf campaign, which encourages supporters to sponsor one shelf of books, dedicating it to a woman of their choice," she says.

"It has really caught people's imaginations, with men and women who want to pay tribute to their pioneering aunties or a famous historical figure - you can dedicate it to anyone you like. It's a living memorial to the women of Scotland."

Sue explains: "Our collection has national significance - we're called Glasgow Women's Library, but our collection of material, by, for and about women, is pan-Scottish.

"But you can't just call yourself national' - you have to go through the proper channels, which is what we are doing at the moment."

Over the years, the library has also played its part in putting women on the map. It campaigned successfully to have Burmese democratic leader Dr Aung San Suu Kyi awarded the Freedom of the City of Glasgow - one of only seven women out of a total of 145 to be given the honour.

The library also runs heritage walks in the West End and Merchant City, which highlight some of the political, cultural and social achievements of women around the city.

"Learning and education is at the heart of what we do," says Sue.

"For some women, coming here has been the first step to changing their whole lives."

She smiles: "So, yes, it's a pretty magical place."