Library Service This is the first month this year that the Reference Library and Local Studies Department were open for the entire month while adhering to limited numbers under public health guidelines. Newspapers, magazines, and study spaces are also available. While after hours events, such as book launches began again in October (adhering to the current requirements of presenting Covid Certificates, contact tracing details and mask wearing at the seated only events) we held the last event on November 17 when we suspended them again due to the high transmission rates of Covid-19 nationwide. The borrowing of eBooks and eAudiobooks saw an increase of 5% when compared to November 2020, illustrating the continuing popularity of this format even though libraries are now open for most services. There was an incredible 116% increase on November 2019 (9,989 borrowed 2021: 9511 borrowed 2020; 4617 borrowed 2019) 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. In November, 42,574 visits were made across our ten service points, 42% less than in November 2019. This may be due to maximum n (Closed in November 2020 due to Level 5 restrictions introduced on 22 October 2020) This is a 9% increase on the previous month of this year most likely due to the opening of further services recently. 55,101 items were borrowed this month returning to the borrowing levels of 2019. 40,220 books were returned to Cork City Libraries in November as compared to 52,050 in 2019 indicating a move in the right direction for the service. A variety of events, exhibitions, lectures, launches and other initiatives continued across all 10 libraries during November. The City Library hosted a variety of book launches in November including Breda Joyce’s poetry collection, Colm O Cheallachain’s Irish language short story collection which is shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards and the Libraries’ own publication Memoir of an Irish Jew . All launches were wonderful literary gatherings and celebrations of the literary life of the city. Douglas Library held a poignant tribute to the late Billy McCarthy on his first anniversary. Billy was a member of the Douglas Library Writing group. Executive Librarian Yvonne Moloney was delighted to accept copies of Billy’s books from his wife to replenish previous copies that were lost in the fire of 2019. The McCarthy family
also announced a new Billy McCarthy Junior Writing Award commencing in 2022. Also, in Douglas Library Mallow based poet and writer Celine Cremin was named the Lennox Robinson 100 Word Award winner for 2021 at a ceremony held in the library. Cllr Kieran McCarthy and competition judge John Dolan of the Holly Bough and Echo presented Celine with her award and paid special tribute to the literary talents of all seven finalists. A wonderful evening of prose and poetry, drama and song were had by all who attended. Exhibitions hosted across the libraries in November included Anam Cara | Soul Friend – a photography exhibition by Daragh Drake in Mayfield Library. Daragh’s work is based on the Celtic Spirituality of the late Co. Clare poet John O’Donoghue. Daragh was born in Mayfiel d and now resides in London. Cork’s Architectural Heritage was celebrated through a unique exhibition by John Davin in The City Library. During the pandemic lockdown periods, John took to walking the streets and hills of Cork City and was fascinated by its varied and rich architectural buildings. This exhibition is a record of some of this architectural heritage. The Perfect Rain exhibition by children's author and illustrator, Tatyana Feeney was hosted in The Children’s Library, Grand Parade. Taking inspiration from the changeable Irish weather, this exhibition combines illustrations from Tatyana's recent book, Eva, and the Perfect Rain, with other weather-based prints. Another wonderful Installation was also hosted in the Children's Department at Grand Parade Library. The talented Colette Mulholland and Ann Lambe of the Conscious Lee environmental awareness project have created the display Conscious Lee. This is a public awareness project to help people value and protect their rivers. The Children’s Library distributed Little Library Book Bags to groups and organisations throughout the city. The book bags contain books chosen by librarians as well as materials created to support storytelling and reading with children. The bags were also delivered to Cork Prison to be gifted by fathers and grandfathers in prison to their children and grandchildren. Mayfield Library enjoyed a splendid sunny morning on November 5th for its “Plants Positivity” community action. Led by staff member, Colin Murphy, pupils from Scoil Bernadette came down to library and got busy filling a large planter box with discarded Halloween pumpkins, compost, soil, and a colourful array of flowering and non-flowering plants. Plants Positivity falls under the Cork Creative Resilience Fund (Cork City Council) and the aim is to spread goodwill and positivity through horticulture.
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