Public Libraries Overview

You are here: home > public libraries in ireland > overview of library services

Library Authorities

 

Public library services are provided by library authorities, typically the local county council or city council.

There are 32 such separate library services in the country:

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

These Library Authorities operate independently and some polices and practices vary from county to county.

 

The Branch Library network

 

Between them the 32 library authorities operate 348 service points, up from 321 in 1998. They also provide library services in hospitals, schools, prisons, day care centres, parish halls and other community service points. 66 new or refurbished libraries have opened since 1999.

Mobile libraries serve neighbourhood housing, rural areas, schools and areas of small population.

 

Opening Hours

 

Opening hours vary throughout the country but around 60% of the branch libraries are open between 30 and 56 hours a week, while 147 are open between 10 and 29 hours per week. The improvement in opening hours is a key issue arising from the first Branching Out report. The hours of opening of individual branches are set by the library authorities and have increased nationally by 34% between 1998 and 2009.

 

Services Provided

 

Although there are differences between library services and individual branch libraries, public libraries generally provide:
lending services (fiction and non-fiction); children's services; reference and general information services; local studies services; public Internet access; self-directed learning; book clubs and cultural programmes. 

 

Collections

 

There are currently around 13.3 million items in stock in the public libraries in Ireland, and 17.6 million items are loaned each year. In addition to books, this stock includes manuscripts, prints, newspapers and drawings, compact discs, CD-Roms, DVDs, cassette tapes, and videos. Electronic materials are a growing resource available on almost 2,000 Internet computers. www.askaboutireland.ie provides access to digitized content from public libraries, including Griffith's Valuation and unique historical film, out of print resources and digital books.

 

Expenditure

 

Budgeted expenditure on public libraries in 2011 will be in the region of €140.6 million (includes 36m Service Support Charges).

Library authorities will spend an estimated €8.7 million on stocking public libraries with books and other materials in 2011.

 

In terms of capital expenditure, since 1999 the Department of the Environment and Local Government has provided €106 million in capital grants for the construction and leasing of new buildings, automation, transport and the stocking and fitting out of new and refurbished libraries. Local authorities have matched this expenditure. An Chomhairle advises both local authorities and the Minister on the capital programme.

 

Staffing

 

There are approximately 1,800  staff working in public library services in Ireland. Staff work at a range of positions - drivers, attendants, library assistants, senior library assistants, librarians, executive librarians, and county/city librarians, serving the public directly.

 

Computerisation

All public library authorities have computerised library management systems, providing library users with on-line access to the catalogue. Libraries are now making their catalogues available over the Internet and, with www.borrowbooks.ie, the public can search all library catalogues at once.

 

Usage of Public Libraries

 

There were over 14.6 million visits to Irish public libraries in 2009, an increase of 17% since 2002.