A new development plan has been launched for Limerick Libraries.
This five-year plan sets out a strong vision and clear direction for the sustainable development of Limerick’s public library service between now and 2025.
People-Place-Platform are the three themes upon which the strategy is based.
The vision is that Limerick Libraries will offer attractive and welcoming spaces where all members of the community can access knowledge, ideas and information and where people can reflect, connect and learn.
Its mission is to promote community wellbeing by providing equal access to high-quality information, educations, recreation and cultural services.
This Library Development Plan outlines 60 priority actions within the strategic framework with the fundamental focus of the plan being the social impact of the public library in the wider community and society in general.
In launching the plan, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Michael Collins said: “The public library is a trusted and valued community asset that enables users to participate effectively in society. We saw how important the service was to communities right across Limerick during the pandemic lockdowns.”
“Libraries are more than just books, they are places of learning, community spaces that can be used for arts and culture, education as well as fuelling your imagination by reading, promoting wellbeing, participation and positively impacting economic welfare in the community.”
Damien Brady, Limerick City and County Librarian added: “Limerick Libraries’ mission is to promote wellbeing and inclusion by providing equal access to information, education, recreation and cultural services.
The Libraries’ vision for the next five years is to offer attractive and welcoming spaces to enable all members of the community to access knowledge and ideas and where people can reflect, connect and learn. The library services reinforces Limerick City and County Council’s core values of social inclusion, collaboration and citizen engagement.”
There are 16 library branches across Limerick, with the Central Library formerly at the Granary, moving across the road to Barrow House at the corner of Ellen Street and Michael Street shortly as part of the Opera Site development.
A new Library building is planned as part of the Opera project.
The Covid pandemic has highlighted the importance of the Library service to the people of Limerick. Library teams from the various branches embraced the digital channels to continue to provide services even though the physical doors were closed to borrowers and other customers.
