7.7 Welsh Librarians’ Study Tour

An Chomhairle was delighted to co-operate with CyMAL in organising a study tour to Ireland by Welsh public librarians.

CyMAL is the Welsh Assembly’s Libraries, Archives and Galleries agency.

Under their Community Learning Libraries strand of the Libraries for Life: Delivering a Modern Library Service for Wales 2008-2011 programme, CyMAL looked at examples of investment in modernising libraries across Europe.

A fact finding visit to Ireland to view new and refurbished libraries, funded under the Branching Out capital grants programme, was arranged.

From 15th to 17th September a group of twelve library colleagues from Wales visited the following seven libraries:

• Bishopstown and Tory Top Road libraries (Cork City Council)
• Cashel and Thurles libraries (Tipperary Joint Libraries Committee)
• Tallaght Library (South Dublin County Council)
• Balbriggan and Malahide libraries (Fingal County Council)

The groups found the visit very informative and their findings will feed form part of CyMAL’s arrangements for its capital grants programme.

An Chomhairle and CyMAL thank the County and City Librarians and their staff for the welcome and courtesy shown to our Welsh colleagues.