The Babel Lecture: ''Exploring the Book' - Galway City Library

The first Babel Public Lecture Series entitled 'Exploring the Book' will come to a close with a lecture by Dr Kate Quinn on Tuesday, 1 March, at 6.30pm in Galway City Library.
Titled ’Criminal Passions: The Perennial Appeal of Death and Detection’ it will be delivered by Dr Kate Quinn, Spanish, NUI Galway.

The lecture is open to members of the pubic and entrance is free.

According to Dr Lillis Ó Laoire, Head of the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, “Dr Kate Quinn’s enticingly ’noir’ title manages to mention two of the great themes, passion and death, and promises to bring the first series to an appropriately intriguing completion. Her talk will deal with crime fiction and inform us about why it is we are so drawn by books in this genre.”

There will be a reception before this final lecture from 6.00pm to 6.30pm. The series will be formally closed by Dr Edward Herring, Dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, NUI Galway.

Over the Edge - City Library

Library Ireland Week

'One Book, One Tuam'

One Book, One Tuam”, a community based literacy project was launched in Tuam Library on Friday 11^th February by Storyteller Niall de Burca. This year is the third successful year and the book chosen for 2011 is ‘The Secret of Kells’ by Irish author Eithne Massey. This project involves classes from local primary and secondary schools along with Ability West, St Oliver’s and local groups all enjoying ‘The Secret of Kells’ and partaking in associated activities.
Events organized in conjunction with the project include music, art, drama and history workshops, all of which are free to attend. Author Eithne Massey will visit Tuam and read from her book and the finale of the project will be the viewing of the film. The objectives of the project are to promote literacy in the community, to involve local groups, clubs and schools in activities which promote inclusion in the community and to highlight the joy of reading for pleasure.

Ten Things You Should Know About Slow

Don't rush through life. Dian Duchin Reed is a writer and poet who loves to garden and always takes time to smell the roses, lilacs and jasmine. Among "Ten Things You Should Know About Slow" she recommends that:

One of the most delightful (and insightful) ways to slow down is to take the time to read poetry daily. "And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow," wrote William Butler Yeats in "The Lake Isle of Innisfree."

Savour poems of all eras, categories and styles by choosing a book from our poetry section (we have hundreds by poets from all over the world on our shelves) and read one poem slowly.

10th Anniversary for Oranmore Library

There have been over 500,000 visits to Oranmore Library since its opening ten years ago. New figures released as Oranmore Library celebrated its tenth birthday have shown that the public library registered 16,343 members and attracted over half a million visits through its doors since the facility opened in 2001. During the ten-year period since the facility opened on 19 January 2001, 546,156 books were also issued to readers.

The library project is the result of co-operation between Galway County Council and the Saint Mary’s Old Church Restoration Committee. The Old Church Restoration Committee commenced work on restoring the disused former Saint Mary’s Church in the early 1990s and won support from the National Heritage Council, Coillte Teoranta, the Irish American Partnership, FÁS and many local people.

In 1995, the Church Restoration Committee approached Galway County Council with a request that the restored church should house a new public library for Oranmore.

Following consultations initiated by Angela Kelly, Chairperson of the Church Restoration Committee, the building was leased to Galway County Council who, with assistance from the Department of Environment, completed the refurbishment of the building as a public library.

Reflecting on the milestone, Oranmore Librarian John Lawlor said that “the library looks forward to further successes through providing relevant and timely book collections, access to new technology and to hosting educational and cultural programmes.”

Mr Lawlor said the library is always keen to encourage new users and he welcomes all Oranmore residents or those working in the area to avail of what has become a much loved resource and community space.

Poetry as a Bridge to Romania - Portumna Library

Poetry of Belgium in Glenamaddy Library

Cinema Club in Gort Library