Following discussions with the Office of the Minister for Children (OMC), An Chomhairle established a Working Group on Library Services to Children and Young People.
In tandem with the establishment of the Working Group, the OMC commissioned research into Public Library Services for Children and Young People in Ireland. The results of this study will inform the work of the Working Group.
The membership of the Working Group, which met four times during the year, is:
- Valerie Coghlan, Librarian, Church of Ireland College of Education
- Dave Corcoran, Assistant Principal Officer, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- Domitilla Fagan, Librarian, An Chomhairle Leabharlanna
- Richie Farrell, County Librarian, Roscommon County Library
- Margaret Hayes, Deputy City Librarian, Dublin City Council
- Norma McDermott, Director, An Chomhairle Leabharlanna (Chair)
- Eimear McGinn, Senior Executive Librarian, Kildare County Council
- Marie O’Reilly, Assistant Principal Officer, Office of the Minister for Children
- Maedhbh Rogan, Executive Librarian, Meath County Council
- Brendan Teeling, Assistant Director, An Chomhairle Leabharlanna (Secretary)
Under its terms of reference the Working Group shall, having regard to the research commissioned by the Office of the Minister for Children:
- assess the current provision of public library services for children and young people;
- make recommendations for future action, and
- draft guidelines for best practice in the provision by library authorities of services to children and young people.