Why you should visit your local library….

If you have any questions about how to join your local library, you can chat online to a trained Youth Information Officer or leave us a message and we can get back to you.

Every time I go into my local library I find large groups of people young people.  To be fair, from January to June most of them are Leaving Cert students, and some of them are even studying.  Generally though, people are doing different things and most seem to be chatting and just hanging out.

Like, in my library there’s a manga book club for people like me. There’s other one-off events for young people of different ages. Sure, if I told you that you could go to a library and play a drum kit as hard as you like as a kind of work out, would you believe me?

No, of course not

Well that’s a real event that happens in the library in Arklow in Co Wicklow.  It’s called ‘Pound: Rock out, Work out’.  How mad is that? The days when a library was just a place to get books and to be told to shush are long gone.

The other thing that really helps is that pretty much everything is free.

• It’s free to join.
• You can borrow up to 12 items at any one time, and keep them for 3 weeks…for free
• You can reserve another 12…for free
• If you haven’t finished with the items you have borrowed, you can check, reserve and renew online and keep them for longer…for free
• You can borrow books…for free
• You can borrow or download Comic & Graphic Novels…for free
• If your local library hasn’t got the book you want, you may be able to request it from another library in a different part of the country.….for free
• You can download audio books…for free
• You can download E-books…for free
• You can download magazines …for free
• You can access online newspapers available to the library…for free
• Love to play music? Some libraries have teamed up with Music Generation to make musical instruments available for loan for up to 6 months at a time…not free, you pay a deposit, and then most instruments are between €20-40 to keep it for 6 months, so still pretty good value.  Find out more here 
• They also have these things called C-Pens that reads text out loud to help people with Dyslexia or vision difficulties with reading
• Most libraries have sensory toys for those that want or need them, on hand and…free

• You get free wi-fi,  and use of computers
• There is study space if you are a student – quiet space for homework
• If you are unemployed, many have services to help put together cvs or apply for jobs
• Usually nice spaces for anyone who is autistic, quiet, or with sensory spaces.
• You can sign up for, and take, e-learning classes (Not available in all libraries)
• You can just sit and read a magazine or newspaper freely available for all
• Explore your local heritage and history
• All libraries tend to have story time events for little ones, so a great place for both parents and children to meet with friends
• There are book clubs for adult, teens and junior readers
• There are different holiday activities including arts & crafts or different workshops (check your local library for dates of different events)
• It is also a great place to find out about local services on the various posters and flyers on the notice boards
• There are REALLY friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff

Some libraries are lucky enough to have Europe Direct Centres. There are eight at present based in: Blanchardstown, Letterkenny, Clones, Portlaoise, Ballinasloe, Sligo, Limerick and Waterford City libraries. Local Europe Direct can be found here Or network across Europe here.

• Enquiries about how to obtain an EU Passport.
• Information about legal matters relating to EU legislation.
• Requests for information on setting up a business in the EU.
• Information about citizen and consumer rights in the EU.
• Requests for general documentation on the workings of the EU and its institutions
• Events, including talks, exhibitions and competitions.

Europe Direct Citizen’s Helpline: 0080067891011

Some libraries have what they call ‘Sanctuary status’ which means they have shown themselves to be safe inclusive spaces for people who are refugees, asylum seekers or new to Ireland. But I would suggest that it shows they are safe for everyone.

Libraries are for everyone. They don’t discriminate.  Whether you are a millionaire who could buy their own library, or a poor family that can’t afford to buy a single book, your library card entitles you to the same service, the same welcome and the same experience.

There are a lot of Libraries in the Dublin area, and another ten in Co Wicklow and if you can’t get out to a library, or there is none near you, some services, like Co Wicklow have a mobile unit that travels to different locations right around the county. Below are links with locations for the different libraries in each Dublin area.

• Libraries in Dublin City Council area
• Libraries in Dublin South area
• Libraries in Fingal area
• Libraries in Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown area

Another thing is the atmosphere. Libraries are calm and quiet, which sounds boring, but it’s actually kind of rare.  Life is pretty full-on—school, social media, everything—so having a space where things slow down is actually really helpful for your head.

I’ve read about this thing called ‘friction maxxing’ – basically going analogue. So if you fancy that, the library is a great place to put your phone away, and look stuff up the slower way, in books, instead of doing an online search and letting AI do your thinking for you.

They are a great social space in a low pressure way – it’s easy to chat and there’s never any pressure to do stuff. They’re a bit like quiet youth centres – I’ve heard them called a third space – basically, not home, not school…a third or different place for young people to spend time.

And finally, they’re safe. Staff are usually sound, and it’s a place where people look out for each other. For a lot of young people, that matters more than you’d think.

So, yeah – go for the books if that’s your thing but stay for the vibe.