Library Service Level 5 lockdown came into effect on December 24, 2020, and library doors remain closed to date with staff in the most part working from home. Cork City Libraries continue to offer online services through eBooks, eAudio books, RBDigital, Universal Class and many more. The Library eNewsletter is sent to over 8,500 people bimonthly and the daily Housebound Book Delivery Service to the elderly, those cocooning and those in residential care homes, all continue to provide a vital link to the community. Membership has increased 12.6% in Cork City Libraries since March 2020 illustrating the relevance of our online services to the public. (36,666 members for year ending February 2021 compared to 32,568 for the same period in 2020.) Though the libraries remain closed we continue to make every effort to support our users, writers and bookstores during these difficult times. The use of library eBook/eAudio books by members of the libraries also increased by a staggering 130.6% over the past 12 months; (11,752 eBooks/eAudio books were borrowed in February 2021 compared to 5,097 in February 2020) Further investment at a local and national level has been crucial to sustaining this vital service which has encouraged many people to look to the public libraries though they may not have done so prior to Covid-19 lockdowns. The Libraries’ online presence continues to develop and included many innovative content pieces this month. Two free Winter Wellness sessions were provided to the public supporting # KeepWell campaign, a series on Frederick Douglass was created by staff using content and articles from the Local Studies department, the Conversation Café Social Space Series was hosted inviting people to discuss Anew and the future of our city. We were delighted to celebrate, with writer Éibhear Walsh his book and our nomination to the Dublin Literary Award , reaching the longlist and we hope that The Trumpet Shall Sound will go all the way! Thanks also to our Writer in Residence , Tina Pisco for her very informative blogs on tips for creative writing as well as hosting the first of a series of online creative writing workshops on the theme of climate change, which was booked out. National Ireland Reads Day was held on February 25 and encouraged the people of Ireland to Squeeze in a Read. Cork City Libraries really got behind this campaign hosting over 30 events for all ages. These included specially commissioned videos of local and national poets and writers reading from their works, blogs, podcasts, recommended reads. The Out- Lit Bookclub met through Zoom and facilitated by writer Jamie O’Connell had a discussi on with writer Gaye Shortland on her book Mind that tis my brother. Cork personalities also supported the campaign by being part of a slideshow recommending their favourite book!
Click here for an interactive experience of the slideshow … put up the volume and enjoy!
Ireland Reads with Music.mp4
Alex Murphy - ‘Young Offenders’
Ugonna Duru Lamhlingo – App Creator
Conal Creedon - Writer
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