Library Service Despite the pandemic March was a momentous month for Cork City Libraries with €400 million announced for the Cork City Docklands and Grand Parade Quarter under Ireland 2040’s Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) – the biggest investment by the public sector in Cork City in the history of the state. This regeneration within the very heart of the medieval city – alongside the old city walls at the Grand Parade Quarter will see the development of a 7,700 square foot library that can facilitate up to one million visits.
March also saw David O’Brien taking up his position as Cork City Librarian. Appointed on December 14, 2020, his post became effective from March 1, City Librarian and staff look forward to working on the detailed planning, design and delivery of this state-of-the-art library which will be central to progressing community, culture, economic development, tourism and placemaking aspects of the new city centre. However, the doors of all 10 Cork City Library service points continue to remain closed with staff working a blended roster working in the office and from home. Staff efforts have enabled Cork City Libraries online events to continue to expand. 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 with the delivery of almost 4000 books so far in 2021.
The libraries services providing eBooks, eAudio books, RBDigital, Universal Class and many more continue to remain very popular. The borrowing of eBooks and eAudiobooks saw an 86% increase when compared to March 2020 and an incredible 318% increase on March 2019 (12,835 borrowed 2021: 6891 borrowed 2020; 3068 borrowed 2019). Increased 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.
As has been the pattern throughout the different levels of lockdown membership of Cork City Libraries continues to increase, with a 7% increase to year end this month on 2020 and 53% increase on 2019 (36,679, 2021: 34361, 2020: 24018, 2019). CCL network was extended from 7 service points to 10 as part of the extension of the city boundary. Staff have implemented many new initiatives and programmes in March. A collaboration with the St Patrick’s Festival team enabled Gaeilge on Glass; a selection of Irish language writing from established poets and writers based in Cork City were installed in 6 libraries throughout the city.
A combination of poems from national award-winning Irish language poets combined with new writing from young and old in our city. Two young poets from Coláiste Choilm saw their pieces installed in The City Library and Tory Top Library alongside published poets. This recognition of their work may be the catalyst that encourages them to continue writing and perhaps see writing as a career path. Older writers from the Irish language creative writing group Peann agus Pár also featured in the installations. This group has been facilitated by many of the established poets featured so this was a very important project for them to be involved in and a great recognition of their amazing writing. The installations worked well under Covid-19 restrictions as people out for a walk could engage with literature. The
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