Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced an investment of over €3.1 million in 46 library branches across the country.

Some €2.2 million in funding will be provided to roll-out the ‘My Open Library’ initiative in a further 17 branches – which will allow people to access their local library outside of normal opening hours, with Tramore benefitting to the tune of  €225,859. Dungarvan and Lismore Libraries have been granted €52,672 and €33,379 respectively for the upgrade of the existing ‘My Open Library’ services.

Kieran Kehoe, Director of Services, Waterford City and County Council said, “With an overall investment of over €250,000, the highest allocation in the Country in this category, I am particularly delighted that the community of Tramore will now get to experience the benefits of the service too as the funding will facilitate the rollout of ‘My Open Library’. This is a wonderful initiative which has proven phenomenally successful in Dungarvan, and the additional funding to it and Lismore will further enhance the ‘My Open Library’ services in the area.”

“Tramore Library prides itself on providing an exemplary service to the community, but now the provision of longer opening hours coupled with a transformational upgrade to the building itself will make the library a landmark public building in Tramore, as well as making it more accessible to a large cohort who can’t ordinarily visit during normal opening hours.”

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. John O’Leary welcomed the investment stating that it will further enhance Tramore Library’s public service offering. “As a burgeoning town, inhabitants of and visitors to Tramore will be able to take full advantage of the wide range of services available from the library at a time that suits them.”

Minister Humphreys made the announcement at World Library Congress in Dublin. The event is hosting approximately 1700 delegates from 100 countries.

Announcing the €3.1 million investment, Minister Humphreys said, “I’m really pleased to support 46 library branches right across the country with an investment of €3.1 million. This funding will see the roll-out of the ‘My Open Library’ initiative in a further 17 branches – ensuring thousands more members can access their local library outside of normal opening hours. This initiative allows people to avail of self-service library services between the hours of 8am and 10pm, seven days per week. And I’m also pleased today to announce funding to further improve facilities in 29 branches that have already embraced the ‘My Open Library’ initiative.”

The Minister concluded, “’My Open Library’ is the flagship initiative under the current Public Libraries Strategy ‘Our Public Libraries 2022 – Inspiring, Connecting and Empowering Communities’. It will also form an important part of the successor to the current public library strategy which my Department is currently working on. I would like to thank all those that took the time to respond to the recent public consultation on the development of the new strategy. I look forward to considering these responses and to the opening of further ‘My Open Library’ facilities into the future.”