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18 Sept 2025
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18 Sept 2025
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Mayfair Library in Kilkenny City
Kilkenny County Library Services presented their five-year development plan to build on recent success at the County Council’s monthly meeting on Monday.
The presentation by County Librarian Josephine Coyne outlined the enormous growth in engagement that has been enjoyed along with ambitions to increase the book fund in the coming years.
There are currently eight libraries and a mobile unit in operation in the county with 24% of the population joining or renewing in 2024.
The plan was developed through four staff workshops, a public survey with nearly 400 responses and a survey of schools and early learning centres to find out what key stakeholders wanted to see implemented.
The library service has seen a strong resurgence in the post-covid years with a 22% increase in items borrowed, a 14% jump in total visits and a rise of 42% in membership countywide.
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Library expenditure in the current Council budget is around €4.4 million, 3.6% of all spending. A key aim of the development plan is to grow the book fund per capita from the current level of €2.19 up to the national target of €4.
Deputy Mayor, Cllr Maria Dollard voiced her support for this saying: “I would really urge my colleagues to support an increase in the book fund this year.”
The success of the Mayfair Library in Kilkenny City is a major factor for the surge in popularity across the country with 188,000 visitors, 140,000 items borrowed and a 142% increase in membership in its first year alone.
Labour’s Cllr Seán Ó hArgáin commented on the “phenomenon of the library being the coolest place for teenagers to hang out in Kilkenny” while Cllr Joe Malone (FF) called for a further extension of opening hours for young people during exam season.
Cllr Eugene McGuiness (IND) concluded by saying: “to see kids re-engaging with the library is unbelievable, we’re building communities.”
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