Service
Public library services
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
The public library is a local service with a nationwide reach. Members can use all library services at any library in the country.
Public libraries also provide a wide range of resources and activities to support schools in helping children develop literacy, numeracy, creativity and communication skills.
Anyone with a public library card is allowed to borrow and reserve items from any public library in the Republic of Ireland. It is free to join and all 30 library authorities are part of the service.
At your library you can access:
- books from any library in the country
- audio books and DVDs
- literacy supports
- facilities for small businesses
- community meeting facilities
- health and wellbeing supports from the Healthy Ireland programme.
If a resource is unavailable in your local library, and is available in another library, then you can request it through the inter-library loan service.
The My Open Library service is free. The service is currently available in 30 libraries nationwide.
The My Open Library service provides opening hours that are additional to normal staffed hours. The service provides enhanced access for the community.
The library also provides a wide range of online services that can be accessed from anywhere in the country. These include:
- A collection of over 110,000 eBooks and eAudiobooks
- A collection of over 7,000 eNewspapers and eMagazines
- Over 600 online eLearning courses at a variety of levels and comprising a wide range of subjects
- Over 110 language courses for speakers of 30+ languages
View details about your local library service.