National Public Libraries Open Day is a celebration of the vital place these buildings hold in society
For them, libraries have been sources of inspiration, learning, creativity and community connection.
National Public Libraries Open Day, on Saturday, September 26, is a celebration of Ireland’s public library network and the important contribution libraries make to communities across the country.
Here, well-known personalities who love books today write about why they love Irish libraries, and why everyone should experience the benefits of membership.
Libraries are a place where new experiences, new friends and new lives are waiting for you between the pages of a book.
The ancient Egyptians called them “medicine for the soul”, and in a world that seems to change with every passing second, there is nothing more healing than walking into a library and being surrounded by the wisdom of the past and the present.
And it’s all yours, for free, without pop-up ads and algorithms distracting you and vying for your attention.
In a library, you can lose yourself in a book, and there’s no better place to be lost.
My earliest memory is being propped up on the handlebar of my father’s bike, on the way to signing up for library membership.
I was enchanted by the books I found, and I can still feel the amazement in realising I could find out the end of the story because I could bring the book home.
I may not have gone on to become a writer without that sort of service in my community to support my parents in instilling in me a love of books.
It then becomes the job of the next generation – bring your younger siblings, your cousins, your friends, share your love of libraries and the treasure that they are in society.
My work on brain health and dementia has informed how I view public libraries.
They are a space where the mechanisms of discovery reside, not merely shelves of books, but welcoming spaces of innovation, inclusion and community.
I view them as places where people connect, learn and are creative.
If you’ve never met me before, and we meet at an event, whether it’s a wedding, a funeral, or even waiting at the bus stop, by the end of the conversation you’ll either be joining the library or if already a member, downloading BorrowBox [a digital library service].
I joined as a child and visited our local library once a week. My primary school was very close by and now my children go to the same school and are members of the same library – although it has changed a lot over the years.
You can borrow up to 12 items at a time, including books, DVDs and computer games, plus a further five ebooks, five audiobooks, and up to 100 enewspapers, emagazines, and comics via the free BorrowBox app.
Some libraries also have energy-saving toolkits, musical equipment, Tonies [character figurines that unlock and play audio stories, songs and educational content when placed on top of an audio player], or use 3D printers, podcast and recording studios, sensory pods. The list is endless.
Not to mention community spaces, events, or just somewhere to sit down to read for free.
Do yourself a favour and carve out some space in your week to spend some time in your local public library.
These lovely book-lined rooms are oases of calm, peace and quiet in busy towns and bustling streets all over Ireland.
In the library, browse among the shelves; read the spines, look at the books that interest you.
Sit down and read, surrounded by people like you – by readers, whose very presence creates a mood both warm and stimulating.
There may be storytelling, lectures, readings, from time to time. But the deep wonder of the library is in its books.
Every library is a precious space where you feel at home, and also have a gateway to the whole wide world.
We sometimes forget that libraries serve as vital hearts within our towns and cities.
Libraries, in whatever form or shape they take, offer far more than just books on shelves.
They stand as welcoming spaces for connection across generations.
Whether you’re just looking for a quiet space for reflection or an inspiring environment to stir your curiosity, I encourage you to sign up for a library card and engage with what’s happening in your local library.
When I moved from Brazil, a friend showed me the Irish libraries, and I immediately got my library card. That connection changed my life forever.
Take a closer look at your branch. It is a free passport to thousands of books, ebooks and audiobooks, 3D printing, games, TV streaming, workshops and more.
Libraries bring communities together, help people create roots, bloom and thrive.
As a children’s author-illustrator and mother, I still see libraries as a safe haven for creativity, connection and growth.
Joining is free for everyone, with no status or money required. Sign up today for a world of opportunities.