From Department of Rural and Community Development; Local Government Management Agency (LGMA)
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Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys has today launched The Library is the Place, an ambitious new five year strategy designed to support and strengthen our public library network.
The Library is the Place contains 66 separate actions which will ensure our public libraries become multi-purpose social and educational spaces for all members of the community to enjoy.
The strategy was launched as Minister Humphreys officially opened Ireland’s newest library facility in Portlaoise, which received an investment of almost €7.5 million.
Among the highlights of the Action Plan are:
Launching the strategy today, Minister Humphreys said:
“I’m delighted to officially open Ireland’s newest library facility – a €7.5 million state-of-the-art project in the heart of Portlaoise. This facility is on the site of an old department store. And now, it has been totally transformed for 21st century use. I’m very pleased also to launch ‘The Library is the Place’ – our ambitious new strategy designed to support and strengthen our public library service over the next five years. Our libraries are at the heart of our towns and villages – with over 300 facilities nationwide. They are places that provide key services and cater for all members of the community. And as Minister, I’m determined for this to continue as we implement this ambitious new strategy and action plan. The Library is the Place’ is about ensuring our libraries continue to adapt to the rapid changes taking places in society. It’s about ensuring that they become multi-purpose social and educational spaces for people of all ages – from our toddlers right up to our senior citizens.”
The Minister continued:
“This strategy sets out 66 concrete actions that we will deliver over the next five years. We will treble the number of ‘My Open library’ facilities to over 90. These are facilities that can be accessed 365 days of the year. We will deliver an ambitious library capital programme underpinned by unprecedented investment from my department. We will provide every library user in the country with access to a book club. And we will significantly increase the activities available in our libraries – from computer and language classes to arts and craft. I really believe ‘The Library is the Place’ will transform our libraries facilities for the better – benefiting all members of our community regardless of their age or ability.”
Other commitments contained in ‘The Library is the Place’:
Minister Humphreys concluded:
“Our public libraries are for everyone. They are a fantastic free resource at the heart of our communities providing spaces for information, recreation and inspiration. I would like to pay tribute to all our library staff who are so committed to serving their community. Without them, our libraries simply wouldn’t exist. I want to thank them for all of the hard work and I know they will help implement ‘The Library is the Place’ with great determination and commitment.”
Allocation of Funding under Dormant Accounts Fund for Library Supports
Also today, Minister Humphreys and Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien, announced €550,000 in funding for library supports for marginalized and disadvantaged communities under the 2023 Dormant Accounts Action Plan. (See projects in appendix 2 below)
This funding will support:
Announcing the funding, Minister Humphreys said:
“Hand in hand with the announcement of the new strategy and the opening of this new library, I am delighted along with Minister Joe O’Brien to announce the allocation €550,000 of Dormant Accounts Funding to further support our libraries in our communities. As evidenced by the title of the strategy – the library is the place for all in our communities and this funding will help our libraries to go even further in facilitating inclusion and participation by all.”
Also announcing the funding, Minister O’Brien said:
“I am delighted to approve this funding under the 2023 Dormant Accounts Action Plan. This funding will support events and programmes which reach out to those most marginalised in our communities. It will also provide for a number of measures to support digital equity and social inclusion such as sensory spaces and equipment, Magic Tables and Acorn Age Friendly tablets. I have seen first-hand the positive effects of this equipment on a range of users, including neurodivergent people, people with reading difficulties and older people. This funding will build upon the success of previous years’ projects and go a long way to ensuring that the wonderful facilities available in our libraries are accessible and used by all in our communities."
The impressive building accommodating the new Portlaoise library is located on Main Street in the heart of Portlaoise and will form a significant element of the Cultural Quarter development in the historic core of the town. The new building will provide library space of 1,600 square metres approximately, comprising of a community activity space, study space and a children’s library with exhibition and activities area.
It also features a Local Studies section and reading room where people can access the Laois Local Studies Collection, which has a large selection of printed books, journals, newspapers, microfilmed and digitised records and archival material pertaining to the county.
Library patrons can also read or relax in an internal courtyard/garden space where they can view the Fort Wall at the boundary of the library.
Laois County Council bought the old Shaws Department Store site on Main Street in 2013.
The library will form a significant element of the Cultural Quarter development in the historic core of Portlaoise showcasing and promoting the Fort Protector and Fitzmaurice Place. The new part two storey /part three storey building will provide library space of 1,600 square metres approximately, comprising of a ground floor space of 850 square metres and upper floor space of 750 square metres.
The Department of Rural and Community Development provided funding of €3.16 million under its Libraries Capital Programme towards the overall €7.5 million cost of the project. The project also received over €2 million in funding under the Urban Regeneration Development Fund.
The new strategy was developed by the Department of Rural and Community Development in partnership with the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), the County and City Management Association (CCMA) and local authorities. It is a 5-year plan for the period 2023-27 which sets out the strategic context for further investment in library infrastructure, technology, programmes and services.
The strategy was drafted following an extensive consultation process that included a public consultation which resulted in 2,993 returned questionnaires, focus groups with over 300 libraries staff members, further focus groups with key stakeholder groups and interviews and workshops with key interested parties.
The strategy contains three overarching themes:
66 strategic actions have been listed under nine strategic objectives and three enablers.
A list of the Strategic Objectives and some of the specific actions to deliver these are:
1. Reading and Literacy is at the heart of what we do
2. Libraries for all
3. Skills for Life
4. The Library as the Centre of the Community
5. Our Buildings
6. Sustainability and Climate Action
7. Our Digital Offer
8. Culture
9. Cross border and Transnational Co-operation
10. Data Supported and User-Focused Service Design
11. Marketing
12. Library Team
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