National Library of Ireland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids National Library of Ireland |
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| The front façade of the library, 2011 | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Established | 1877 |
| Location | Kildare Street, Dublin |
| Collection | |
| Items collected | Books, journals, newspapers, magazines, manuscripts, maps, prints and drawings, printed music, photographs, ephemera, and websites and databases |
| Size | estimated 8 million items |
| Legal deposit | Yes, since 1927 |
| Access and use | |
| Access requirements | Free. Open to all those who wish to consult the collections for material not otherwise available through the public library service or an academic library. |
| Other information | |
| Director | Audrey Whitty (February 2023–) |
The National Library of Ireland (NLI) is Ireland's main library. It is located in Dublin and was designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. The library's main goal is to collect, keep safe, and share all kinds of information about Ireland. This includes books, old papers, and digital records.
The NLI is a special kind of library called a reference library. This means you can read and study materials there, but you cannot borrow them to take home. It has a huge collection of items about Ireland. You can look at books, maps, handwritten documents, music, newspapers, and photos for free.
The library also works with other important places. These include the office of the Chief Herald of Ireland and the National Photographic Archive. It also partners with University College Dublin for the Museum of Literature Ireland. The NLI often has cool exhibitions. It also helps people research their family history using genealogy tools. The Irish government's Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is in charge of the library.
You can find the main library building on Kildare Street in Dublin. It is right next to Leinster House, which is where the Irish parliament meets. It is also near the archaeology part of the National Museum of Ireland.
Contents
History of the Library
The National Library of Ireland was created by a law in 1877. This law said that many of the collections from the Royal Dublin Society should be given to the public. This was done so that everyone could use them.
In 1881, an agreement was made for the library to be run by a group of twelve Trustees. Eight of these Trustees were chosen by the Royal Dublin Society, and four were chosen by the government. This system stayed in place until 2005. That's when the library became an independent cultural place.
After Ireland became the Irish Free State in 1924, the library moved under the Department of Education. In 1927, the library gained "legal deposit" status. This meant that a copy of every book or paper published in Ireland had to be sent to the library. In 2005, the library officially became an independent cultural institution.
Who Runs the Library?
The National Library of Ireland is managed by a board. The daily work is handled by a director and other leaders. Many important people have been directors of the library over the years. In 2023, Audrey Whitty became the new director.
What's in the Collections?
The library has more than 12 million items! Its collection started with books and papers from the Royal Dublin Society. It grew even more when it became a "copyright library" for Ireland in 1927. This means it gets a copy of most things published in Ireland.
The library aims to collect everything about Ireland. This helps create a full record of Irish history and culture.
Main Collections
The library's main collection includes about 1 million books. These came from the Royal Dublin Society and from legal deposits. The library also buys books and materials from Northern Ireland. It tries to collect all publications written in the Irish language.
Other important collections include:
- Serials: These are publications that come out regularly, like magazines, journals, and annual reports.
- Maps and Drawings: Old and new maps, plus various drawings.
- Government Publications: Documents from the Irish government and other public groups.
- Manuscripts: These are handwritten documents, often very old and unique.
- Newspapers: A huge collection of Irish newspapers, both original and on microfilm.
The NLI also has many items related to 20th-century Irish poets. It is a great place to find poetry by Irish writers.
Writers' Archives
The National Library of Ireland keeps personal papers and workbooks of many famous writers. These include:
The library also holds the Sheehy Skeffington Papers. This collection includes articles, books, and poems by Irish writers and activists, Francis Sheehy Skeffington and Hanna Sheehy Skeffington. These papers help us understand their influence on Irish culture in the early 1900s.
The Cooper Collection is also at the library. Austin Cooper (1759–1831) was a clerk from County Tipperary. He made many sketches of old Irish sites. The collection also has drawings by other artists, like Francis Wheatley.
Family History Records
The library has an online list of all Catholic parish registers up to the 1880s. These records show baptisms, marriages, and some burials. The original collection was saved on microfilm and is now available online. This is very helpful for people doing family history research.
Irish Music
Since 2010, the National Library of Ireland has worked on a project called the National Archive of Irish Composers. This project aims to create a free online collection of sheet music from Irish composers of the 18th and 19th centuries. It is a team effort with the TU Dublin Conservatory of Music and Drama.
Digital Collections
In 2019, the library started collecting "born digital" items. This means they began taking in collections that were created only on computers, not on paper. The first digital collection they received was from the Irish author, Marian Keyes.
See also
- List of Ireland-related topics
- National Archives of Ireland
- National Photographic Archive
- Trinity College Library, Dublin
- UCD Library
