Fast Facts & Figures

• There are 16.1 million visits made to public libraries each year.
• There are 15 million books borrowed from public libraries each year.
• There are 2.7 million audio books, CDs and DVDs borrowed each year.
• There are 1.9 million Internet sessions provided each year on 2,000 Internet access PCs and via free wi-fi.
• There are 348 branch libraries and 30 mobile libraries.
• Local Authorities will spend an estimated €140.6 million on library services in 2011.
• Local Authorities will spend an estimated €8.7 million on stock in 2011, an average of €2.06 per capita.

Public libraries in Ireland are run by 32 separate library authorities:

• 4 services are run by City Councils;
• 27 are run by County Councils;
• and 1 (in Tipperary, where there are 2 County Councils) is a joint libraries committee.

A list of the library authorities, with their contact details, is available on our www.library.ie website.

See also our public library statistics in the publications section of this website.

The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has responsibility for public libraries at central government level and provides grants for new public library developments.

An Chomhairle Leabharlanna advises the Department and the Library Authorities on public library development and on library co-operation.