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Breaking News
NEW LIBRARY OPENED IN BORRIS
A new library service opened its doors to the public on Wednesday 30th June in Borris, Co. Carlow.
FÁS eLearning at the Library
Aimed at absolute beginners, and those who want to improve their PC skills, FÁS and your local public library are offering you the chance to brush up on your PC skills.
An Bord Snip Nua - Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes is now available for Reference in Carlow County Library.
The Ryan Report Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse is now available for Reference in Carlow County Library.
Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government Michael Kitt, T.D., today (17 April) announced his approval for a two year Capital Programme for Public Libraries 2009-2010. Borris Library to receive grant of €200,000 in 2009 and Muinebheag Library will get an additional grant in 2010.
Upcoming Events
Open near you
An information evening on the Open University will be held in Carlow Central Library on Tuesday 15th September 2009 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
Pont Pean Visit Muinebheag Library
To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Twinning of Muinebheag and Pont Pean (France) a group of 26 including the Mayor of Pont Pean Jean Luc Gaudin visited Muinebheag Library on Friday the 1st May 2009, where a presentation of the recently published Carlow History and Society was made.
Reading Tree Initiative Prizewinners
A presentation was held in Carlow Central Library on Saturday 25th April 2009. Children who won prizes in the Reading Tree Initiative were presented with their prizes by Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, Councillor Denis Foley.
Book Launch
Major New Book on Carlow "Carlow History and Society" edited by Dr. Thomas McGrath was launched in St Patrick's College Carlow on Thursday 11th December 2008, at 7p.m.
Who Do You Think You Are?
Why not visit Carlow County Library's Local History Department and trace your family tree; Ardal O'Hanlon did...
Kidzone News
Over 400 children from Carlow primary schools took part in the Christmas Crafts Programme in Carlow Central Library in December 2008.
Carlow County Library is 78 years agrowing...
"CARLOW County Library service was established in 1930 and while the county was late into the field in providing a public reading facility, it is today a service which after 78 years of existence is modern, sophisticated and streamlined, with a total stock of in excess 100,000 books to be found on the library shelves of three branches in Carlow, Muinebheag and Tullow." Read the full article as published in the Carlow Nationalist here:
Branching Out - Future Directions
On Monday June 23, Mr. John Gormley T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Mr. Michael Kitt T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, launched Branching Out – Future Directions, the new policy document which will drive the development of the public library service in Ireland over the next five years.
Minister Gormley explained that this policy document builds on the original report Branching Out, which was published in November 1998. It looks at progress made to date and identifies the challenges facing the public library service over the next five years and through a series of priorities and recommendations sets out the directions for future action.
Branching Out – Future Directions contains a number of recommendations to build on the development of the public library service, including:
- focus on the development of library infrastructure including new buildings, refurbishment works and protection of architecturally important library buildings,
- improvement of the range and quality of stock,
- development of the role of the public library service in lifelong learning and
- recognition of libraries as centres of culture.
The new policy documents are available here:
Carlow Library Readers Have Their Say
In September of 2007 adult users of public libraries throughout Ireland were asked for their views on libraries in a major marketing survey entitled PLUS (Public Library User Survey). A similar survey was carried in 2002 when Carlow scored particularly well in terms of the number of young readers using the service.
This time Carlow, in common with the other 31 public library services countrywide had a high participation rate. More than 480 library users responded in the Carlow Central Library, 240 in Tullow and some 79 in Muinebheag.
The PLUS survey was conducted by a private, independent market research company, funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and co-ordinated by the An Chomhairle Leabharlanna (The Library Council).
The Library Council was established in 1947 and is the statutory agency which advises national and local government on public library development in Ireland. It is involved in a range of activities to enhance the role of public libraries in Irish life and promote the use of the service to the public. The present recently appointed twelve member board of the Library Council has two Carlow representatives Councillors Michael Abbey and Des Hurley.
The results of this extensive survey were issued in May 2008. The PLUS survey asked library visitors to fill in a questionnaire covering 66 aspects of library services. For instance in Carlow 72% used the Library for lending, 21% used the reference service, 7% used it to get information on Carlow local history, 4% availed of the language learning facility and music lovers made up 7%.
More than 88% thought that the opening hours were good or very good and 10% thought they were adequate. Ease of access to the library was considered good or very good by 93%. A whopping 99% of respondents rated staff helpfulness as good or very good. The Library was considered as a safe place to visit by 98% of those who filled in the questionnaire.
When they were asked their overall impression of the Library (question 19) 96% opted for good or very good.
A third of the respondents visited the Library once a week, 20% once a fortnight, 18% once every three weeks, and 12% once a month. There were also questions on age grouping and employment status, distance from the library and disability.
Several questions referred to Large Print books, Audio Books, CDs and DVDs. There were also detailed questions regarding the Internet, use of computers, WiFi, Text enlarger and Text to speech software, Optical Scanning, email and printing.
On a national scale over 33,000 questionnaires were given out in 369 branch and mobile libraries.
The PLUS survey was discussed at the July meeting of Carlow County Council.
Lost & Found
A Wedding band was found in Carlow County Library in a book which was returned before Christmas. Please contact John at 059-9170094 if you are missing a wedding ring, or may know of someone who is!!