Council's library service celebrates 100 years at the heart of Cork communities

Cork County Council’s Library and Arts Service has marked 100 years of library services across the county with the launch of a special commemorative booklet.

The booklet traces the evolution of the library service from its early beginnings in the 1920s to the modern network in place today.

It is available free of charge in all Cork County Council library branches and mobile libraries, offering the public an opportunity to explore the story of their local library service.

Mayor of the County of Cork, councillor Bernard Moynihan, said this centenary celebrates “not only a significant milestone in the history of Cork County Council Library Service, but also the generations of communities, staff, and library users who have supported and shaped it”.

“We are proud of the role our libraries play at the heart of communities across Cork and look forward to continuing to serve the county into the future,” said Mr Moynihan.

Key milestones

The booklet highlights key milestones in its journey, including the appointment of the first county librarian, Michael O’Donovan, who is better known as the renowned Irish writer, Frank O’Connor — as well as its response to significant challenges throughout the years, including wartime pressures, major flooding events, and the covid-19 pandemic.

Established with the support of the Carnegie Trust, the Cork County Council Library Service grew from a small operation in the early 1900s into a county-wide network serving communities across Cork.

From its early base on Patrick St, where books were distributed to centres throughout the county, the service expanded with the development of branch libraries and the introduction of a mobile library service in the late 1950s.

Cork County Council has said that today, the mobile service continues to play “a vital role, with a modern fleet ensuring access to library services across rural communities”.

“The release of the booklet forms a key part of Cork County Council’s celebrations of 100 years of library services,” a spokesperson for the local authority said.