6. Research and Information

An Chomhairle’s Research and Information Department provides research resources, facilities and expertise to assist the staff of An Chomhairle, users from the public library and other library sectors, and library and information science students studying both within Ireland and elsewhere.

Information services include the research library, an enquiry service and a range of publications including Irish Library News, the current awareness service TIPS, and analyses of public library statistics.

Websites
The Research and Information Service is responsible for the continuing development of the library portal website www.library.ie and the Public Library Buildings database, www.librarybuildings.ie.

Library.ie is updated several times each week and attracted over 250,000 visits in 2008.

Public Library User Survey
The results of a national survey of public library users, which was undertaken in 2007, were published in 2008. The survey, which was funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, was co-ordinated, at national level, by An Chomhairle.

Research Library

An Chomhairle maintains a research library which consists of books, serials archival material, photographs and multi-media material on the library and information sector and the needs of the library and information professional, with particular reference to public library authority services. During 2008 online access to the Research Library’s catalogue was made available via An Chomhairle’s website.

The Library provides an enquiry service – by phone, email, letter and online – on matters relating to libraries and librarianship in Ireland.

The Library is open from 9.30-13.00 and 14.00-17.00, Monday-Friday, by appointment.

Publications

An Chomhairle has published Irish Library News since 1977, and in 2007 a new design was commissioned. The first issue in the new design appeared in February 2008. Nine issues were published (nos. 278 to 286).

Irish Library News is also distributed electronically and may be downloaded from An Chomhairle’s website.

Ten issues of the current awareness service TIPS were published in 2008, providing up-to-date material of interest to library staff.

Statistics
An Chomhairle continues to collect and analyse statistics on public library authority expenditure. During 2008 Public Library Authority Annual Estimates of Expenditure, 2008 was published in electronic format. A summary was also made available in both printed and electronic versions to local authorities, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and other interested parties.