Tag Archives: Kerry Library

Entertainment, News, WHAT'S ON

Summer Stars Reading Challenge Returns To Library This June

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SUMMER Stars is the public library national summer reading programme for children and Kerry Library invites all children throughout the county to join in the adventure and discover the fun and pleasure of reading over the summer by taking part in our Summer Stars Reading Challenge.

Summer Stars is non-competitive and every child who reads even one book or eBook is regarded as having completed the programme – and it’s all completely free.

From Saturday, June 8 children are invited to visit their local Kerry library and collect a Summer Stars Reading Challenge card to track their reading.

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Children are welcome to join Summer Stars at any point over the summer and when they complete the challenge they will receive a medal and certificate of achievement.

Kerry libraries stock a vast range of children’s books suitable for all ages and interests. In addition, BorrowBox, our eBook / eAudiobook / eMagazine service, offers a large selection of titles for children. They have stocked up for the summer with a huge range of favourites and new gems to discover.

Kerry library staff are ready and waiting with great recommendations to help young readers discover new authors and genres they might not have tried before.

During the Summer Stars Reading Challenge, libraries will be hosting storytimes, workshops, board game afternoons, sensory mornings and competition throughout the summer months.

Visit your local library during in July and August to be in with a chance to win a prize. Keep an eye on their social media and in your local library to take part. Further details at www.kerrylibrary.ie

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News

€225,000 Allocated For New Mobile Library In Kerry

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THE Department of Rural and Community Development has allocated a grant of €225,000 for a new mobile library  for Kerry.

Kerry already has two mobile libraries which serve North and West Kerry and South and East Kerry respectively. The funding will be used to replace one of the existing mobile libraries which has been in use since the 2000s.

There are nine public libraries in Kerry including Ballybunion, Caherciveen, Castleisland, Dingle/Daingean Uí Chúis, Kenmare, Killarney, Killorglin, Listowel and Tralee.

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The mobile library service is used to serve villages and parishes with visits every two weeks.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Education Norma Foley said; “It is very positive news that we will have a new mobile library on the roads of Kerry. This service is invaluable in bringing the magic of books to people all across the county.”

“Our library buildings and our mobile libraries are a fantastic resource for our communities. I would encourage everyone to join their local library, which provides books and other resources for free as well as study spaces and meeting rooms.”

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News, WHAT'S ON

Workshop At Tralee Library To Help You Trace Your Family History

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KERRY Library will be hosting ‘Family History’ workshops at Tralee Library on Saturday, February 18 and at Killarney Library on Saturday, March 4.

These ‘Starting Your Family Tree’ workshops will be facilitated by genealogist and family historian, Lorna Moloney.

They will run from 10am to 2pm each day. The workshops are free, but registration is essential.  Both workshops are practical so participants are welcome to bring information on their own family history on the day.

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Light refreshments will be provided. The same workshop will take place at both libraries.

Participants will begin with an introductory overview on Irish family history and learn about its many components – such as census records, civil registration, Catholic parish registers, property records, etc.

These workshops will detail how to use these various genealogy sources and which sources are best to use to get an in-depth historical family tree.

See www.kerrylibrary.ie for more or contact Tralee Library at 066 7121200 or Killarney Library at 064 6632655.

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News

New Children’s Books Reading Guide Available In Kerry Libraries

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Pictured at the launch of ‘Picture This’ and assisting Children’s Books Ireland CEO, Elaina Ryan, was young reader Kate (3) in Dublin. Photo: Julien Behal Photography

A NEW reading guide from Children’s Books Ireland celebrating picture books and illustration is now available in every branch library in Kerry.

‘Picture This’ features over 230 recommended reads for children and young people aged 0–18, which have been reviewed by experts in children’s literature.

The guide aims to break down barriers to children’s reading, making books of all kinds accessible to children across Kerry, including those who may have reading difficulties or whose first language may not be English or Irish.

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Each review is accompanied by a ‘Read also’ recommendation, bringing the total of books included to over 450.

Picture This focuses on books with strong visual narratives, including wordless or silent books, graphic novels and comics, picture books for all ages and graphic diary-style texts.

The guide aims to highlight books, series and texts to encourage reluctant readers or those with language barriers to engage with reading.

Commenting on the launch of the Picture This Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland, said: “Pictures are important. They are rich and expressive and joyful and complex. As a child, they’re our first dip into the world of storytelling – but they’re not something to be left behind once a child is comfortable reading text. Pictures on the page aren’t just a stepping stone, they’re a journey in themselves.

“Presenting an alternative route to the linear progression from picture books to chapter books, we want Picture This to give children and young people in Kerry just a little bit of space to discover a love of reading at their own pace, to read stories in formats they never knew about or would never have considered, to come back again and again to an illustration, experiencing the joy of finding something new each time.

“We particularly hope that these stories will have special appeal for young readers with reading difficulties, or those whose first language may not be English or Irish.”

Testament to the increased visibility of excellent books for children as Gaeilge, the guide, whose Irish name ‘Amharc! Breathnaigh! Féach!’, translates to ‘Look! Look! Look!’, features 29 Irish language books.

These include new releases, such as An Slipéar Gloine by Fearghas Mac Lochlainn and Paddy Donnelly, and family favourites such as Geansaí Otto by Sadhbh Devlin and Tarsila Krüse. All books from Irish authors, illustrators, publishers or those written in the Irish language are highlighted in the guide with a shamrock.

Picture This is now available for free in every library authority in Ireland and in sixty participating bookshops islandwide. The guide is also free to download from the Children’s Books Ireland website: www.childrensbooksireland.ie.

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News

Archives Relating To Legendary Kerry Cyclist Presented To Kerry Library

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Kerry County Librarian Tommy O’Connor receives albums relating to the career of legendary Kerry cyclist Gene Mangan at Killorglin Library this week. Also present to mark the occasion were, Tom Daly, Vice President Cycling Ireland, Éibhlín Hayes, Killorglin Library, Mary Concannon, Killorglin Cycling Club. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

A FASCINATING part of Kerry’s sporting history in the form of two albums of newspaper cuttings put together in the 1950s by Gillian Mangan, younger sister of the legendary Kerry cyclist Gene Mangan, has been donated to Kerry Library.

At an event at Killorglin Library on Tuesday, Gillian donated the albums to Kerry Library who will hold them for public access in the Kerry Local History & Archives in Tralee.

Gillian’s collections begin in 1954 when Gene was 17 years old and becoming prominent in cycling circles: “I was seven years younger than Gene and he was a hero in my eyes,” said Gillian.

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“I got all the papers and cut out anything to do with Gene and stuck them into old account books. I’m delighted that they will now be preserved of use for future generations and I’d like to thank the library for hosting them,” she added.

Gene became a national sporting sensation in 1955 by winning the Rás Tailteann at the age of 18. Apart from documenting Gene’s early career, the albums also record the glory-days of Kerry cycling in the 1950s and 60s that also include Paudie Fitzgerald’s Rás win in 1956 and Mick Murphy’s in 1958, as well as the all-important Kerry team wins.

A large collection of newspaper cuttings relating to Kerry cycling kept by the Mangan family has also been donated.

In addition, they also include cuttings and pictures of ordinary club races and riders and they are highly evocative in giving a wonderful sense of the cycling scene and the people involved in Kerry at the time.

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Speaking on behalf of the library, Kerry County Librarian, Tommy O’Connor, thanked Gillian for her donation which will be preserved in a public archive for the use of future generations and he noted that it will supplement the very scarce copy of Gene’s biography that Kerry Library holds – ‘The Gene Mangan Story’ which was written by Seán O’Neill and was published in 1959.

The event was also attended by Mary Concannon, a representative of Killorglin Cycling Club and she also paid tribute to Gene.

“Gene left Kerry in the 1950s for work and eventually settled in Dublin but he has had a life-long loyalty to Kerry cycling and in particular to his original club in Killorglin. He has always been a wonderful supporter and has contributed to Killorglin and Kerry cycling in numerous ways down through the years. We would like to thank Gillian for this donation – it will be highly interesting for everyone with an interest in our sporting heritage and an important part of the town’s history.”

Also in attendance was Tom Daly from Killarney who is Vice-President of Cycling Ireland. Tom said that Gene was a significant figure in the history of Irish cycling from both a racing and administration point of view – he was also President of the National Cycling Association for a period and also noted that ‘Gene has previously donated important material related to the history of Irish Cycling to the Irish Cycling Archive at the UCD Archives but it is entirely appropriate that this material, related to his Kerry roots, should stay in Kerry’.

The albums and related collection of newspaper cuttings can be viewed at Killorglin library during September and thereafter in the Kerry Local History & Archives at Library Headquarters in Tralee.

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News

Kerry Libraries To Receive Over €14,000 To Improve Services For Vulnerable And Marginalised Groups

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OVER €14,000 in funding is to be provided for libraries in Kerry.

Government funding of €14,404 is being made available to assist libraries across Kerry to reach out to and improve services for vulnerable and marginalised groups.

Welcoming the news, Kerry Fine Gael TD, Brendan Griffin said; “This funding is designed to support and encourage the use of libraries by children, the elderly, people with disabilities and the marginalised and disadvantaged communities, with a number of projects also designed to reach out to Ukrainian families who have fled the war.

“The funding will provide for a range of equipment, classes and activities in libraries across the country and I am delighted that many libraries in Kerry will benefit,” he added.

Entertainment, News, WHAT'S ON

Kerry Library Hosting Online Events For Ireland Reads Day

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KERRY Library will be celebrating Ireland Reads Day on Friday, February 25, with a host of online events.

Children’s authors, Emma Larkin, and Katie O’Donoghue will present story time sessions which will be made available each day of the week beginning Monday 21st February.

There will also be story times from library staff available on Kerry Library website www.kerrylibrary.ie throughout the week.

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There will be an online competition asking customers who visit the library on Friday 25th to take photos of the stack of books (or book) that they borrow and post on social media. There will be prizes of book tokens for the winners.

Find out about all that is happening for Ireland Reads, get book recommendations, and take the pledge to read on Friday, 25 February at www.irelandreads.ie

News

Kerry Library Encourages People To Take Part In ‘Ireland Reads’ Campaign

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Kerry County Librarian, Tommy O’Connor.

KERRY Library has teamed up with libraries nationwide and some local authors for the ‘Ireland Reads’ campaign, which is part of the government’s ‘Keep Well’ initiative and aims to celebrate reading and all the benefits it can have for wellbeing and enjoyment.

The campaign is asking everyone to ‘squeeze in a read’ on Ireland Reads Day, Thursday, February 25 and a dedicated website www.irelandreads.ie  has been set up where people can pledge to read on the day.

The website also offers book recommendations suited to a person’s interests and the time they have available.

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There are more than 800 recommendations from librarians all around the country. A website user can simply enter their favourite type of book and how long they would like to read each day and in return get a suitable book suggestion and with an estimate of how long it will take to read – a couch to 5k for books!

Campaign partners and libraries all over the country will be running ‘Ireland Reads’ initiatives and events throughout February in the build up to Thursday, 25 February.

Here’s just some of what is planned at Kerry Library www.kerrylibrary.ie:

• Book clubs go online:  Kerry Library is delighted to be able to facilitate online Book club meetings and your book club can get involved from the comfort of home by simply downloading an e-book or e-audio book from Borrow Box and starting to read!  Contact onlinequeries@kerrylibrary.ie if you need help.

• ‘Squeeze in a Read’:  To celebrate the Ireland Reads campaign Library staff have pledged to read extracts from their favourite books in the lead up to 25 February.

• Get to know a local author:  Up and coming author Emma Larkin has recently published two wonderful books for children – Izzy’s Adventure series.  The theme of the books is to encourage girls to play sport while also having a fun magical element. Catch up with Emma on the library Facebook page  as she chats about her love of books, writing and libraries.

• Éire ag léamh :  Join library staff on the 25th for children’s story time as Gaeilge – ag léamh as Cosc ar Chrogaill! le Heather Pindar.

• Pledge to read a paper:  Not in the mood for a book or just don’t have time at the moment? No problem! Why not take some time out to read a newspaper or magazine instead.  The Kerry library website provides free member access to thousands of the world’s most popular newspapers and magazines. If you need help just go to the library Facebook page for a step by step tutorial to help get you started.

A number of well-known campaign ambassadors from the worlds of writing, science, sport, health and broadcasting are on board to help promote the campaign and you can find out what reading means to them and why they support the campaign at www.irelandreads.ie.

Patrick O’Connor Scarteen, Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council is urging the people of Kerry to join the initiative and is asking  that ‘during this month to please pledge to take some reading time for yourself or to share with family and look up the Kerry Library website to see the wide range of resources that are available free of charge. Libraries may be closed at present but their excellent online services are still available’.

Kerry County Librarian, Tommy O’Connor, in support of the campaign says that “it doesn’t matter whether you’re an avid reader, a reluctant reader, a lapsed reader or a new reader but to use Ireland Reads Day to use some of the available library online sources. Right now, many of the activities we used to take for granted are not available to us, but you can always enjoy a good book, newspaper or magazine”.

Kerry Library provides e-books, e-audio, e-newspapers, e-magazines, e-learning courses, e-languages and e-comics on its website www.kerrylibrary.ie

Find out about all that is happening for Ireland Reads, get book recommendations and take the pledge to read on Thursday, 25  February  at www.irelandreads.ie

News

1,000 Books To Be Donated To Children By Kerry Libraries

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The Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Patrick Connor Scarteen (second from right) launched the 1,000 books for children in Direct Provision and Family Resource Centres initiative at Killarney Library on Thursday. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

KERRY Libraries are this week donating 1,000 books to children living in Direct Provision Centres in the county as well as children using the services of Family Resource Centres throughout Kerry.

The Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Patrick Connor Scarteen launched the initiative at Killarney Library on Thursday.

The initiative has been made possible with funding provided by Kerry County Council and the Dormant Accounts Scheme 2020 to support services for marginalised, socially excluded and disadvantaged communities.

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In the coming days, 1,000 Christmas books, suitable for pre-school children, will be gifted to children in Direct Provision Centres and children who are clients of the many Family Resource Centres across county Kerry.

“It is hoped that this will introduce families to the concept of sharing a bedtime story this Christmas and that it will promote a long-term interest and love of reading and a future ongoing contact with library services,” said County Librarian Tommy O’Connor.

Cllr Connor-Scarteen commended the work of Kerry Library in rolling out the initiative which he said was a wonderful seasonal boost for many families and children in particular at Christmas.

Kerry Library is also delivering the “Family Time with the Library” programme with the aim of supporting the involvement of the whole family in children’s reading. Children can register and agree to read six books, e-audio or e-books during the month. All who complete the programme will receive a Library Book Bag which will include a selection of books. Family events and activities will take place online at www.kerrylibrary.ie All Kerry libraries are promoting the programme to library users, schools and parents/guardians.

Meanwhile why not pay a visit to any of the nine libraries throughout the county, all of which have re-opened for normal lending services. See www.kerrylibrary.ie for further details or e-mail info@kerrylibrary.ie

News

Over €23,000 In Funding For Kerry Libraries

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FUNDING totalling €23,534,00 has been announced for Kerry Libraries.

The funding, approved by Department of Rural and Community Development, has a specific focus and is aimed to support a wide variety of groups in local communities.

‘Family Time @ your library’  which is part of Kerry Library Services’ Right to Read Programme comprising of online and physical components for both adults and children will receive €18,000.

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This progamme is aimed at people with literacy needs, early school leavers, Residents of direct provision centre and residents of deprived areas.

A sum of €5,534 will be available for purchase of TTRS licences for people with low literacy levels or learning differences. Minister Norma Foley welcomed the news  saying; “The last few months have been very difficult and any funding which helps our libraries to reach out and engage with the communities they serve is most welcome. This funding will be used to continue to assist our libraries in promoting community well-being and fostering community inclusion.”

Entertainment, News

Kerry Library Offers Free Access To Hundreds Of Digital Comics And Graphic Novels

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KERRY Library now offers free access for library members to a new eComics service, offering hundreds of digital comics and graphic novels, suitable for all ages.

All you need to get started is a Kerry Library membership card. Anyone can register online for this service using their Kerry Library card and choose from top comics including Marvel, Disney, IDW, Dark Horse and other major titles.

There are currently over 500 titles to choose from, aimed at readers young and old. The new comic service allows you to read comics as you want – either check out titles as a volume or just as a single issue.

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There are no waiting lists. You can keep the title to read for up to 30 days (with automatic return) and there is no limit to the number of comics that you can borrow at any given time.

Comics can be enjoyed either on a PC/laptop or on any mobile device via the rbDigital app available from iTunes App Store, the Google Play Store or the Amazon App Store.

Comics now join the existing range of online services already on offer from Kerry Library including eBooks and Audiobooks, online magazines and newspapers, eLearning courses and language learning classes online. These resources cater for all ages and are accessible on a PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

For full details on how to access all the Kerry Library online services, visit the websitewww.kerrylibrary.ie , contact us by phone (066 7121200) or email onlinequeries@kerrylibrary.ie.

Meanwhile, for its youngest members Kerry Library is continuing with its online ‘Spring into Storytime’ initiative.

Each weekday throughout April, at 11.30am, they will be sharing on their social media pages, a storytime video recorded by librarians throughout the county.

Follow them on Facebook or Twitter @KerryLibrary to listen to the story and afterwards visit the library website www.kerrylibrary.ie to download linked craft ideas and activity sheets to go along with the stories.

Entertainment, WHAT'S ON

Children Encouraged To Get Reading With ‘Summer Stars’ At Library

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The children who completed the Summer Stars programme last year.

THE Summer Stars Reading Adventure is back in Kerry libraries.

This is an exciting reading-based programme which is available free of charge to primary school children across Kerry.

The Summer Stars Reading Adventure will run during July and August in the Kerry Library Service.

Children are invited to register for the adventure and enjoy reading the eight books required as part of the programme. All participants will be given a Summer Stars Reading Card to record and track their own progress. Reading cards are available at all libraries.

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At the end of the programme a prize-giving ceremony will take place at the each library whereby successful participants of the adventure will be presented with a Certificate of Completion and a prize pack.

Everyone is invited to check out the Summer Stars website at www.summerstars.ie which has lots of online games and activities as well as a range of animated e-books.

It features a children’s books discussion board and interviews with well-known people about their favourite books. There are also helpful tips for reading and recommended titles by age group for children to read.

These books can then be borrowed from your local library. And it’s all free. For more information, contact your local library.

News

New Library System To Benefit 22,000 Members In Kerry

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Kerry Library. Photo by Dermot Crean

KERRY LIBRARY will begin operating a new system for checking in and out library books which will result in significant benefits for library users from Tuesday, July 12.

Kerry Library’s 22,000 members will be able to request books from libraries in other participating counties as well as use their library card to borrow books from libraries in several other counties around the country.

The Sierra system is part of a national rollout of a project to standardise library circulation processes countrywide. It is already in place in Dublin, Kildare and Wexford libraries and ten other local authority libraries apart from Kerry will also go ‘live’ with the new system on Tuesday next.

The new system will have some very positive benefits for library users – following on from the introduction of free library membership last January – including

• Borrowing of up to 12 items at any one time for a 21 day period
• Access to the library catalogues of other participating counties
• Use of the Kerry Library membership card in other participating counties
• Requesting of items from libraries in other participating counties
• Delivery of items from other counties to one’s own library
• Book renewal online, by phone or by visiting a library

There will be a slight change to the fines payments arrangements on overdue books. Fines will increase nationally to 5c per day per item for those who do not return books on time. Members will however get a reminder to return books in advance of the due date while they can also renew them by calling to a library, renewing them online or by phone renewal.

Users are requested to be patient with library staff during the implementation period in July. Kerry Library looks forward to serving its members more efficiently in the years ahead.

News

Austin Stack Lecture For Tralee Library Next Week

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Austin Stack 1
Austin Stack.

TRALEE Library will host a lecture titled ‘Austin Stack: Portrait of a Separatist’ on Tuesday, May 31, at 7pm.

The lecture will be given by historian, Rev. J. Anthony Gaughan, a native of Listowel.  The lecture is based on his biography of Austin Stack.  The lecture forms part of Kerry Library’s Decade of Commemoration events.

This free lecture ‘Austin Stack: Portrait of a Separatist, will take place at Tralee Library on Tuesday, 31 May at 7.00 pm and is open to all. For further details contact Tralee Library at 066 7121200 or log onto www.kerrylibrary.ie

Austin Stack was born in Ballymullen in 1879.  In 1916, as commandant of the Kerry Brigade of the Irish Volunteers, he made preparations for the landing of arms by Roger Casement.

Stack was arrested and sentenced to death for his involvement in the Rising. However, this was later commuted to  penal servitude for life. He was elected as a member of the 1st Dáil.

He opposed the  Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 and took part in the subsequent  Civil War. He was captured in 1923 and went on hunger strike for forty-one days before being released in July 1924.  His health never fully recovered and he died in 1929.

News

Kerry Library To Hold Open Day On 1916 Rising

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Kerry-Library-Logo-300x197THE Kerry Library is holding an Open Day in its Local History and Archives section on Saturday, February 13, between 10am and 4pm for donations of family artefacts, photographs and letters relating to the Easter Rising.

It will be part of an exhibition that will commemorate the role of the county in the Rising, which will run from the Tralee Library from March 22 to April 30, 2016.

The items will be loaned to the Kerry Library for the duration of the exhibition, and returned to the donating families afterwards.

The library would like to bring together as wide a selection of material as possible. Any items of interest can be brought along on the open day and copied, scanned or donated for a long or short term loan.

So, if you would like everyone to know what your father, mother, grandfather or grandmother did during the rising, call in and be part of the Commemoration Exhibition. Further details from 066-7121200 or archivist@kerrylibrary.ie

News

Kerry Library Service Receives €250,000 In Funding

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Kerry-Library-Logo-300x197THE Kerry County Mobile Library Service will receive €250,000 as part of the new Library Capital Investment Programme announced today by Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Alan Kelly, T.D.

The Department will invest some €22 million nationally in the Library Capital Investment Programme for the period 2016-2021.  The programme will build on past programmes and will provide a range of facilities for the local library service, including new and refurbished premises and mobile libraries.

In Kerry funding will be provided specifically for the mobile service which provides an extensive service across the county.

Kerry Labour Deputy, Arthur Spring welcomed the news. “I am delighted to see this vital funding allocated to Kerry Mobile Library Service. Kerry County Library and the Mobile Library service provide an excellent service to customers across the county.  I also want to commend the Library on their recent decision to introduce free library membership from January 1st this year,” Deputy Spring said.

News

Tralee Library To Host Exhibition Of Surgical Artifacts

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Kerry-Library-Logo-300x197A FASCINATING exhibition of artifacts tracing the development of the Kerry Surgical Infirmary from the 18th century to date will be on show in Tralee Library from  September 1-14.

Researched and collated over twenty years by distinguished local historian and author Dr Bob Fitzsimons, the exhibition has many original articles and case reports. Of particular interest are the items related to the work of Dr Francis Crump during his innovative work with saline infusion during the 1830’s cholera outbreak and the introduction of Ether Anesthesia in 1847.

The exhibition timeline continues on through to the arrival of the Bon Secours sisters to Tralee in the late 19th century, the building of the new Kerry General Hospital in 1983 and developments up to today.

The exhibition will be formally opened by noted medical Historian Professor Davis Coakley of St James Hospital, distinguished author of “The Irish School of Medicine” and Irish Masters of Medicine” on Tuesday, September 2 at 6.30 pm.

The exhibition is free and available to the public during library opening hours.