Sligo County Library

2007 was another busy year for Sligo Library Service where the calendar of events for the year reflected a host of different events, activities, presentations and exhibitions. Providing a quality service and a desire to promote and foster reading for all is at the core of the Library service.

EXTENDED OPENING HOURS

Sligo County Library Service continued to increase its level of service and commitment to the public by increasing its opening hours in 2007. Opening at 9.30am, remaining open through lunch hour and providing late openings until 8pm, on Tuesday nights in Tubbercurry Community Library and Thursday nights in Central Library, Sligo town, ensures that the public have varied options to suit their needs and lifestyles. In addition Ballymote branch Library increased its opening hours from 11 hours to 22 hours per week from December 2007.

DISABILITY ACCESS

Access for people with disabilities was a priority for Sligo Library Service during 2007. As such disabled parking, disabled toilets, ramps, Induction loops and directional signage were all realized in selected branches. These infrastructural changes already complemented other facilities in situ, such as reading magnifiers at all desks and software such as JAWS and ZOOMTEXT available in all branches on selected public computers. A second training day for staff on the theme of ‘Making Access Happen’ was held in January 2007.

MULTICULTURAL POLICIES

Sligo Libraries are committed to multiculturalism and recognize the importance of the various non Irish national communities in our society as a whole. In recognition of this we have implemented various strategies.

COLLECTION OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE TITLES

A policy of collection development aimed specifically at foreign language material, adult and juvenile, fiction and non-fiction, has been ongoing throughout 2007. Material can be found in Central Library, Stephen Street and Tubbercurry Community Library, Humbert Street, Tubbercurry.

BORROWBOOKS

The BorrowBooks initiative allows a library member to search across the Irish public libraries’ online catalogues to locate and request an item which is not held in the person’s own library service. This initiative, which was introduced in 2005 continues to go from strength to strength and in 2007 Sligo Library Service supplied 263 items to other libraries and received 308 items from other libraries.

COLLECTION OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS

Sligo Libraries provide access to electronic resources which enable non Irish nationals access to a wide range of news media. In all five branch Libraries readers can enjoy over 500 full content digital replicas of newspapers and magazines from 70 countries in 37 languages. To access simply type in the web address http://library.pressdisplay.com on any of the Public access computers in the various branches.

IRISH TIMES DIGITAL ARCHIVE

The Irish Times Digital Archive Sevice was launched on 8th October 2007 by Mr John Gormley, TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The digital archive contains every page of The Irish Times published since the newspaper’s foundation almost 150 years ago. The archive is available free of charge to Internet users within every public library and school via the www.askaboutireland.ie website. The digitization project was co-funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and The Irish Times Trust.

WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE

Sligo’s first Writer-In-Residence was appointed in September 2007. Niall Williams, twice IMPAC-nominated author, conducted a series of writing workshops and literary appreciation courses with writers, readers and library staff. Mr. Williams will continue his residency until March 2008.

SLIGO LIBRARY BOOKCLUBS

To further encourage reader development among our customers, Sligo Libraries have a number of book clubs set up in various branches. These clubs promote the pleasures of reading and develop the members appreciation of literature at all levels.

Sligo Central Library:

• Sligo Central Book Club meets at 6.45pm on the first Thursday of every month.
• Catacombs Book Club (Carbury) and Sara Book Club (Friary) also supplied various titles to suit their member’s literary needs
  

Tubbercurry Community Library:

• After Five Book club meets at 5pm on the first Tuesday of every month
• Bookworms’ Book Club meets at 12 noon on the last Thursday of every month
• Active Retirement Book Club meets at 3pm on the last Thursday of every month
  

LEYNEYS WRITERS GROUP

“Thursday’s Thoughts” the second publication by the local Leyney Writers was launched by Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr. Jerry Lundy of Sligo Co. Council on Thursday 14th June 2007 at Tubbercurry Community Library. “Thursday’s Thoughts” is an anthology of stories, poems and memoirs and is the end product of a series of workshops held in Tubbercurry Community Library over the past two years.

Extracts from the book were read by various authors on the night and numerous copies were sold. The launch was very well received by the large crowd in attendance and Mr. Donal Tinney, County Librarian, congratulated the writers on their production and spoke of the Library’s support for writers and the arts. Refreshments were served courtesy of Tubbercurry Community Library staff.

LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION

The Local Studies Department increased its extensive collection by taking possession of the Harbour Board archive in 2007. The first steps in the Down Survey mapping Project were taken when all the maps were digitised in May of this year. It is expected that all maps will be viewable on the Sligo Library web-site by late summer 2008. This project will complement the already completed 1837 Ordnance Survey map collection which is available on the website www.sligolibrary.ie . Computerisation of all Local History material was ongoing with various records viewable in the aforementioned catalogue.

PLUS 2007

A major marketing survey took place in all public libraries around the country during the third week in September 2007. The aim of the Public Library User Survey was to assess how well Sligo Library Service meets the needs of its members. Almost 1,000 PLUS questionnaires, which were available in 5 languages in order to obtain the views of as wide a range of users as possible were issued to adult members during the week throughout the county.

Sligo Central Library issued 544 questionnaires alone over the week, during the Plus 2007 survey, making it the 8th busiest library in the country in terms of adult visitor count.

STATISTICS AND EXPENDITURE

The following tables show Sligo libraries expenditure for the fiscal year 2007 (table 1) and how Sligo Libraries compared with the national average using the five related service indicators (table 2).

By studying this data we find that Sligo Libraries are in 27th position nationally and 4th in comparison to the other counties in Connacht in relation to annual expenditure (Table 1).

In addition we find that in four of the five service indicators, Sligo Libraries outperform the national average in the sectors outlined below (Table 2). As such by Sligo Local Authorities continuing its support for the Library Service we hope to maintain this high standard of excellence.

In all five branches on average over four and a half thousand items are borrowed each week during the year and over 600 people per week access Internet Services.
 

Table 1

Table 2

Library Events and Activities During 2007

JANUARY 2007

Adult Learners Festival: January 22nd -26th

• Sligo Central Library: The very first Adult Learners’ Festival took place from 22-26 January 2007. 2007 was the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All and the aim of the Festival was to promote and celebrate adult learning and the achievements of adult learners and to raise the profile of adult education in general. These events are designed to encourage and support groups in the local community to mark the week in a fun and enjoyable way. Two storytellers, Liz Weir and Billy Teare were available to meet with groups. Among the groups who attended events were students and tutors from Sligo VEC, Sligo National Learning Network, Rehab Care Sligo and Youthreach Sligo.
  

FEBRUARY 2007

St. Brigid’s Feast Day – February 1st

• Tubbercurry Community Library: St. Brigid’s Day was celebrated in style with a number of groups making St. Brigid’s Crosses
  

MARCH 2007

World Book Day: Thursday 1st March

• Sligo Central Library: Adult literacy student visit
• Tubbercurry Community Library: Artist John Leonard illustrated various readings
• National Tree Week: March 5th to 11th
• Tubbercurry Community Library: Selection of sapling broadleaf trees distributed to Library customer
• Seachtain na Gaeilge: March 5th to 16th
• Sligo Central Library:
  • Monday the 5th; Coffee Morning “as Gaeilge”.
  • Monday the 12th; Sligo Central Library sponsored the Gael Scoil to attend Comortais Amhranaiochta in the Hawks Well Theatre, Temple Street, Sligo
• Tubbercurry Community Library:
  • Tuesday the 6th; Traditional music session with the “Border Collies”
  • Wednesday the 7th; Coffee Morning in Irish with Sean Owens
  • Thursday the 8th; Presentation of prizes for Irish writing competition.

Anti Racism week: March 20th to 25th

• Sligo Central Library: Wednesday the 21st; Artists from globe house displayed various works from all age groups.
  

MAY 2007

Bealtaine Festival: May 1st to 31st

• Sligo Central Library:
  • Thursday the 17th; Susie Minto, Storyteller held workshops throughout the day entitled “stories that make me, me”.
  • Saturday the 19th; “Introduction to Internet and email” Workshop 11am to 1pm
  • Saturday the 26th; “Introduction to Internet and email” Workshop 11am to 1pm

• Tubbercurry Community Library:
  • Bealtaine Festival: Art Classes held every Tuesday evening throughout May
  • RTE Weather Photo Exhibition: Finalist entries displayed from 3rd May to 31st May
    

JUNE 2007

• Sligo Central Library:
  • Tuesday the 12th; Class Visit and Library Tour, Junior Infants, Mercy Primary School
  • Thursday the 14th, Storytelling to Junior Infants, St Patrick’s Primary School, Calry and Junior Infants, Carbury Primary School
  • Friday the 15th, Storytelling to Junior Infants, Scoil Ursula Primary School and Junior Infants, St Edwards’s Primary School
  • Wednesday the 27th, Class Visit and Library Tour, Fifth Class, Mercy Primary School

• Tubbercurry Community Library:
  • ENFO exhibition displayed for month of June: “Flytraps - Carnivorous Plants”
  • Monday the 14th; Leyney Writers Book Launch “Thursday Thoughts” in co operation with Sligo County Libraries
  • Saturday the 28th; Art Class and Workshop for children with Ailish O’Donnell
    

JULY 2007

• Sligo Central Library:
  • Friday the 6th; Eddie Lenihan, Seanchaí -Storyteller “Tales of Myth, Magic and Mystery for Children and Adults” Jointly funded by Blue Raincoat Theatre Company in Association with Sligo County Libraries, Cairde Summer Festival 2007.
  • Friday the 20th; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pre-Launch fancy dress event.
  • Children’s Summer Camp 2007
  • Tuesday the 24th; Music Workshop with world renowned fiddle player and multi instrumentalist Steve Wickham.
  • Wednesday the 25th; Storyboard Animation Workshop with Ailish O’Donnell.
  • Thursday the 26th; Craft Workshop with Rosaleen Holland.
  • Friday the 27th; Fancy Dress Teddy Bear’s Picnic with Tanya Walsh. Sponsored by Cosgrove’s Fine Food Store, Market Street, Sligo.

• Tubbercurry Community Library:
  • Tuesday the 17th; “The Irish in Britain” lecture and slide show presented by Ultan Cowley to coincide with South Sligo Summer School for traditional music
  • Thursday the 26th; Western Regional section meeting of Library Association
    

AUGUST 2007

• Sligo Central Library:
  • Thursday the 2nd; Eddie Lenihan, Seanchaí - Storyteller “ Tales of Myth, magic and Mystery for Children”

• Tubbercurry Community Library:
  • Wednesday the 7th; Prize giving function for Tubbercurry Literary Festival
  • Thursday the 23rd; Puppets and stories workshop with Chris Thompson
  • Friday the 24th; Reading tree Prize giving
    

Heritage week: August 25th to September 2nd

• Sligo Central Library:
  • Tuesday the 28th; Patricia Gardiner hosted a talk which discussed “Enjoy Walking in the local community”
  • Thursday the 30th; Joe McGowan presented a slideshow entitled “Gale stone and fire, customs, cures and beliefs on Innismurray”

• Tubbercurry Community Library:
  • Tuesday the 28th; Joe McGowan presented a slideshow on Innismurray Island
  • Tuesday the 25th to Sep 2nd; heritage display displaying Artifacts from Sligo County Museum
  • Thursday the 30th; your man Puppet show “The salmon of Freedom”
    

SEPTEMBER 2007

• Sligo Central Library:
  • Thursday the 20th; open University Information evening
    

OCTOBER 2007

Positive Ageing Week: October 1st to 7th

• Sligo Central Library:
  • Thursday the 4th; “Taxation, Issues in Later Life” - Talk by Paul Coughlan
  • Saturday the 6th; Beginners E-mail and Internet Tuition
  • Children’s Book Festival 2007: October 3rd to 26th

• Sligo Central Library:
  • Tuesday the 9th - Author Visit - Andy Stanton
  • Wednesday the 10th - Storyboard Workshops - Wayne O’Connor
  • Friday the 12th - Bunnyhop Shows - Chris Thompson
  • Wednesday the 17th - Animation Workshops - Ailish O’Donnell
  • Thursday the 18th - Author Visit - Brian Gogarty
  • Friday the 19th - Animation Workshops - Ailish O’Donnell
  • Wednesday the 24th - Magic and Stories - Chris Thompson
  • Tuesday the 30th – Masks and mask making

• Tubbercurry Community Library:
  • Wednesday the 3rd; Author visit - Niamh McGrath
  • Tuesday the 9th; Author visit - Andy Stanton
  • Friday the 12th; Rap Workshop
  • Wednesday the 17th; Author visit - Brian Gogarty
  • Monday the 22nd; Author visit - Mary Arrigan
    

NOVEMBER 2007

Science week: November 11th to 18th

• Sligo Central Library:
  • Tuesday the 27th; “Science is magic” by Michael Moylan

• Tubbercurry Community Library:
  • Monday the 26th; “Science is magic” by Michael Moylan
  • Tuesday the 27th; Christmas cake decorating with Sharon Sweeney
    

DECEMBER 2007

• Tubbercurry Community Library:
  • ENFO exhibition displayed for month of December: “life in a shell”
  • Tuesday the 4th; storytelling for children organized by Sligo county childcare committee
  • Tuesday the 4th; switching on Christmas lights and presentation of bookmark prizes
  • Thursday the 20th; Christmas decorations workshop