About Us

Future Developments

In July 2010, Cork City Council adopted a five-year plan for the library service. Click on the following links to read the full document in PDF format.

Cork City Council Libraries have provided a range of well-used services and resources to the people of the city and surrounding region since the service was established in 1892.  Much has been achieved during the lifetime of the previous plan Books, Bytes, and Buildings 2005-2009.  While it is clear that society faces difficult times over the next few years, the service improvements put in place in the years up to 2009 should provide a solid base to build on.

These improvements include

• two state-of-the-art buildings in Tory Top Library and Bishopstown Library, and a much enlarged Douglas Library, all of which contributed to greater usage of libraries;
• significant progress on planning for the proposed new City Library on Grand Parade;
• the service to housebound persons around the city
• two very popular and well regarded libraries websites;
• much improved stock collections, including a greater emphasis on children’s stock and the mother languages of immigrants in the city;
• much enhanced services for learning and information;
• two very successful special  library programmes, for European Capital of Culture in 2005, and The Year of the Constant Reader in 2009;
• a series of well-received library publications; and
• a new staffing structure. 

The Public Libraries User Survey (PLUS) carried out nationally in 2007 indicates a very encouraging degree of satisfaction with the quality of library service in Cork city: for example 95.1% stated that staff helpfulness was ‘good’ or ‘very good’; while 86.5% felt that their local library in Cork was ‘good’ or ‘very good’.

Books, Bytes, and Buildings 2 builds on the achievements of Books, Bytes, and Buildings 2005-2009.  It is in many ways a continuation of the strategies outlined in the 2005-2009 plan and in reading this strategic plan reference should be made to that document.