[CE Management Report] _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Library Service
January 22, 2022, saw the easing of many Covid-19 restrictions across the country. For our libraries this saw all seating and study spaces restored across the 10 libraries, as well as full access to public PCs being made available. Our groups and organisations have been invited back to meet in group settings and our libraries are coming back to life once again. The borrowing of eBooks and eAudiobooks continues to increase with an increase of 3% when compared to January 2021, illustrating the continuing popularity of this format even though libraries are now open for business. Also, the high transmission rate of the Omicron variant of the virus saw many of the public self- isolating or being careful and staying away from large public spaces. There was an incredible 124% increase of borrowing of this format when compared to January 2020. ( 11,503 borrowed 2022;11,165 borrowed 2021: 5138 borrowed 2020) Increased investment at a local and national level has been crucial to sustaining this vital service which has seen many people to look to the public libraries throughout the pandemic, a habit that has continued though we are now open. As with many services a blended approach of in person and online looks to be the way forward for the future of lending materials within our library service. 41,070 visits were made across our ten service points (the libraries were closed in January 2021). 55,371 items were borrowed this month returning to the borrowing levels of 2019. A variety of events, exhibitions, lectures, launches and other initiatives continued across all 10 libraries during January. The Launch of Blue Mondays a debut Poetry Anthology by the Blue Monday’s writing group was hosted by Cork City Libraries via Zoom on January 20th. The group brings together fourteen writers from USA, Ukraine, Germany, Italy, UK, and Cork city. The event was a truly intercultural one with an eclectic mix of poetry and performance and will be available to view on our socials shortly. Marco Gioacchini, Director of the Istituto Italiano Di Cultura Dublino (The Italian Cultural Institute of Dublin) included a visit to The City Library as part of his official visit to Cork on January 21. The Italian Cultural Institute serves to highlight and renew the Cultural ties between Italy and Ireland. Mr Gioacchini donated a selection of books to our public library service, and he was given a tour of The City Library. Our online events continue with Chair Yoga hosted by Claire Dunniece every Monday in January. This is part of our Healthy Ireland at your Libraries programme. The Cork in Verse series of interviews with Cork Poets curated by Ana Spehar included poets Michelle Delea, Philip Spillane, and Julie Goo this month. Workshops began for the Teen Graphic novel which is illustrated and written by Cork teenagers. The book will be launched as part of Cork World Book Fest in April. Planning for The Unfinished Book of Poetry also began this month. We look forward to hosting the sessions in our network of libraries again this year. In
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Leading Cork to take its place as a World Class City P a g e | 8
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