The Welsh Library, University of Wales, Bangor, was named after Thomas Shankland (1858-1927) who was a member of staff at Bangor University Library between 1905 and 1925. The University buildings were designed by the architect Henry T. Hare (1861-1921) and officially opened in 1911. The barrel ceiling of the Shankland Room features wainscot ribs and 36 heraldic shields displaying the counties and boroughs of Wales in oak-framed panels. Thomas Shankland was born in St. Clears, Carmarthenshire, and following a period as a student at the University in Bangor, he served as a Baptist minister in Mold and Rhyl. He returned to his old college as assistant librarian in 1905 and achieved notable work in collecting rare books, periodicals and newspapers. He published widely on the history of the Baptist denomination and hymn-writing.