Are you a member of your local Dublin City public lending library? If the answer is ‘no’ then please join and marvel. Whatever your worldly interests, there are corresponding books for you to borrow. For day-to-day information, the libraries have a selection of national daily newspapers and a choice of weekly and monthly magazines.

There is a lot more going on than just loaning out books and being able to read newspapers. Since 2001 Dublin City Libraries have provided a free internet service where you can use a computer to go online, check e-mails and surf the net. If you’ve never surfed the net or used a computer before, ask the librarian about the computer workshops for beginners. Dublin City Libraries host a free programme of tuition in Computer Basics, Email and Using the Internet.

If reading books is not your thing and you couldn’t be bothered with cyberspace or the internet, don’t dismay as the libraries have updated and modernised their lending catalogue with a wide range of multimedia. There are music CDs available to borrow as well as DVDs, CD-roms and videos. And if you prefer to sit back in a comfortable chair and let someone else do the reading, there is the large selection of audio books.

There can be no better place for parents to take their children, than the library. With books today not cheap and time ever more an issue, a thirty-minute visit to the library with your children is time well spent.

If you don’t already know, you will be amazed at what joy your library card can bring your children, whatever age they may be. All libraries will have an extensive and colourful selection of children’s and young adult’s books.

For multi linguists or those learning a new language, the foreign language section should help improve vocabulary and reading skills. If you wish to improve your Japanese, Russian or Irish among other languages, selected branches hold conversation exchanges. For those new to the country and the English language who care to further their English literacy, there are the easy readers, a less demanding read that does exactly what it says on the book. There are also a number of newspapers and periodicals in different languages available in the Central Library.

If you’re hankering to discuss that book you’ve just read, try one of the reading groups that meet, usually once a month, to talk about an elected book. Last year, over 200 titles were read by 85 reading groups in Dublin City Libraries. Or how about writing your own book? There are the Writers’ Groups where members talk and encourage one another to improve their writing at informal meetings. Dublin City Council libraries also provides a lending service for the housebound.

For more information visit your local branch to find out how you can join, or if you have access to the internet find out more at : www.dublincity.ie/living_in_the_city/libraries
Above: The Dublin City Library in Pearse Street.