Linen Hall Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Linen Hall Library |
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Linen Hall Library
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| General information | |
| Type | Subscription library |
| Location | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Coordinates | 54°35′50.60″N 05°55′53.53″W / 54.5973889°N 5.9315361°W |
The Linen Hall Library is a very old and special library in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It's located at 17 Donegall Square North. It's the oldest library in Belfast and the last "subscribing library" in Northern Ireland. This means people used to pay a fee to become members and borrow books. The library is a big part of Belfast's culture and creativity. It's also an independent charity.
Contents
History of the Linen Hall Library
How the Library Started
The Linen Hall Library is a truly special place. It was started in 1788 by a group of skilled workers. They called it the Belfast Reading Society. In 1792, its name changed to the Belfast Society for Promoting Knowledge.
In 1795, they decided to collect a huge library. They also wanted scientific tools and natural items. Their main goal was to make minds better and encourage everyone to ask questions. The library began to collect books, especially about Irish topics. For example, they published Ancient Irish Music in 1796.
The society faced tough times in the late 1790s. They didn't have their own building. Also, officials tried to control new ideas. But thanks to Rev. William Bruce, the library survived. This was even after a big crackdown following the 1798 rebellion.
Moving and Growing
In 1802, the library moved into its own building. This was the White Linen Hall. That's where it got its name, Linen Hall Library. But legally, it's still the Belfast Society for Promoting Knowledge.
The library struggled through most of the 1800s. It became more traditional. There were debates about whether to include fiction books. They even tried to keep students from Queen's College out.
As the library's 100th birthday came closer, it faced another problem. It lost its home in White Linen Hall. This was to make space for the new Belfast City Hall. So, the library moved into a warehouse. This building was once used for linen. It was designed by Charles Lanyon and his company. The library is still in this building today. At this time, the library also changed. It became more public, caring for its collections for everyone. This was also a time when the library became much more active. It started collecting books with new energy. It also began many cultural programs.
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Challenges and Revival
The library continued to do well between the two World Wars. The public library system was still developing. Even after World War II, it was a center for creativity in Northern Ireland. However, it didn't keep this strong position. In the years that followed, it started to decline.
More money was put into public libraries. Also, there were many bombings in the city center. This caused fewer people to join the library. By the late 1970s, the library was almost closing. It had many important materials, including a large collection about The Troubles. But its building was in poor condition. It had few users and serious money problems. The Department of Education even threatened to stop its funding. In 1980, there were plans to close the library forever.
Saving the Library
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After 1980, a big effort began to save the library. They decided to let everyone use the library for free reference. They also chose to focus on Irish studies, politics, and culture. They were already strong in these areas. This also helped them not compete with Belfast Central Library.
This new plan worked! More people started to become members. The library became a bigger cultural center. It helped with research and built strong ties with the community.
Soon, it was clear that the library needed more space. After ten years of looking at different ideas, they bought a long-term lease in 1996. This was for the upper floors of a nearby building. Then, they started a big fundraising campaign. This was to pay for developing the new space. Construction began in 1999. It was finished in time for the opening on September 16, 2000.
On October 27, 2016, the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, visited the library. He is a poet himself. He was very interested in the library's resources about local poet Sir Samuel Ferguson. Students from Holy Cross Boys' Primary School and Campbell College sang for the guests.
What the Library Holds
The Linen Hall Library offers a free public reference service. It also has a general lending service for adults and children. Plus, it has several special collections.
It is the main place for "Irish and Local Studies" in Northern Ireland. This includes many old books, magazines, and newspapers from Belfast and Ulster. Some of these date back to 1738. It also has many old letters and documents.
The library also has a large collection of maps. Some of these maps are very old and important. It also has many materials in the Irish language.
Its "Northern Ireland Political Collection" started in 1968. It has 250,000 items. This is the most complete collection about the recent period known as The Troubles. It includes materials from all sides of the conflict. The library also has collections about genealogy (family history). There are also collections about the poet Robert Burns and performing arts in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland does not have a single national library. So, the Linen Hall Library collects all books and journals published in Northern Ireland since 2000. This is called NIPR, the National Collection of Northern Ireland Publications. This collection is shared between the Linen Hall Library and Belfast Central Library.
