My Open Library - Ministers Calleary and Buttimer welcome major milestone as over 50 libraries now offering out-of-hours access

• Minister Jerry Buttimer launches My Open Library service in three new branches
• introduction of service will increase the opening hours of all three libraries by 145%
• Government investment of over €6.1million in My Open Library since 2014

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Callery, and Minister of State Jerry Buttimer have today (Monday, 26 May) welcomed a major milestone for the My Open Library initiative as the out-of-hours service is now available in more than 50 libraries across the country.

The achievement was reached as Minister Buttimer officially launched My Open Library in the newly refurbished Carrigaline Library and as Mallow Library and Kinsale Library in County Cork unveiled the service from today.

My Open Library offers extended opening hours, providing library access to members from 8am to 10pm, 365 days per year. It complements regular staffed hours, allowing library members to access the library at times that suit them, particularly those who may not be able to access their library during regular staffed times. The introduction of the service will increase the weekly opening hours of all three libraries by 145%, from the existing 40 hours to 98 hours.

Minister Calleary welcomed the expansion of the My Open Library service by saying:

The remodelled Carrigaline Library features new carpeting and flooring throughout the building along with a brightly coloured children’s area, increased book stock and browsing space. It also offers increased seating and tables for study, remote working and workshops. The community meeting room contains digital interactive screens and has been built to facilitate local group meetings, events, and activities. This room can be booked for use during the day, and in the evening during My Open Library hours.

Speaking at the launch of the My Open Library service in Carrigaline Library, Minister Buttimer said:

The provision of the My Open Library service in Carrigaline and Mallow was supported by Libraries Capital Programme funding of €361,602. The new state-of-the-art Kinsale Library was supported by funding of €2.17 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and welcomed over 100,000 visitors during its first year after opening in November 2023.

My Open Library

The My Open Library service offers extended opening hours, providing library access to members from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., 365 days per year. It complements regular staffed hours and ensures optimum delivery of the service, support for customers, community engagement and the development of programming activities. The staffed hours, combined with the extended My Open Library hours, allows library members to access the library at times that suit them, particularly those who may not be able to access their library during regular staffed times. The self-service activities available to members during My Open Library hours includes, but is not limited to:

• stock issue and return
• internet usage on PC and Wi-Fi for use on own device
• printing, photocopying and scanning facilities
• studying and reading spaces
• meeting space, and
• access to toilet facilities

The My Open Library initiative was introduced on a pilot basis in Banagher, Tullamore and Tubbercurry libraries in 2014 and is currently available in 54 library branches (See Appendix 1).

Library branches overview

Carrigaline Library

Carrigaline Library was officially opened in 2002 and is a building of 372m2.

The refurbishment project has resulted in the library interior being remodelled to include:

• a brightly coloured and welcoming feature children’s area, with increased book stock and browsing space, children’s worktables for homework, crafts, and games.
• The introduction of a new young adult zone with relaxed seating and varied book collections.
• Increased seating and tables for study, remote working, workshops, etc.
• A multifunction community meeting room with digital interactive screens has been built to facilitate local group meetings, events, and activities. This room can be booked for use during the day, and in the evening during My Open Library hours.
• An upgraded Wi-Fi with free access to high-speed internet
• New carpeting and flooring throughout, as well as internal and external painting of all walls with the introduction of feature walls in contrasting colours, and large format graphics of local historic interest.
• inclusion of bike racks to encourage sustainable travel

Kinsale Library and Cultural Space

Kinsale Library opened in November 2023 and welcomed over 100,000 visitors during its first year. The building was a formerly a three-storey Old Mill, which dated back to the late 1800s, but it was re-purposed from a from a boarded-up shell into a state-of-the-art library and cultural space. The regeneration project received €2.17 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund with an additional investment of €2.6 million provided by Cork County Council. Kinsale Library was designed in-house by Cork County Council’s Architects Department and was shortlisted in the RIAI Architecture Awards to be named Ireland’s favourite building or public space for 2024.

Mallow Library

Mallow Library comprises two floors with separate spaces for study and browsing.

It also has a dedicated exhibition space, a meeting room and a sensory space. The branch is ideally located in the heart of the town and is well supported by all communities in the town and surrounding area. The branch offers a varied programme of events, ranging from knitting groups for both adult and juveniles, bingo session, children and toddlers’ group, LEGO club and so much more. The library is the heartbeat of the town offering a truly rich community space that the local population are very proud of.

Appendix 1 - Library branches currently providing the My Open Library service