Libraries Capital Investment announced for Tipperary
Mr. Alan Kelly, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has announced an allocation of €150,000 towards the refurbishment of Carrick-on-Suir Library and an allocation of €100,000 for the purchase of a schools mobile library for the county.
Making the announcement at Carrick-on-Suir Library, the Minister said that he was “delighted to be in position to announce the funding allocation for the refurbishment of Carrick-on-Suir library, which provides an essential service to the town and its surrounding environs. This funding, together with the matching funding that will be provided by Tipperary County Council, will go a long way to sustaining the library service in the town. The continuing viability of the library is crucial, delivering as it does a broad range of supports that contribute strongly to social, cultural and economic development of the area.”
Acknowledging the important role of the local authority the Minister stressed the importance of meaningful partnerships in the delivery of local services. The Minister said, “I am happy to be working together with the local authority to restore the library to a condition befitting its use and importance. This project represents a true partnership between central and local government and it reflects Government’s commitment to a modern, high quality library service that meets the needs of all.”
The Minister also stressed the importance of the new mobile library, also funded by the Department. The Minister, affirming the Government’s commitment to the young people, said “the provision of a new mobile schools library will enhance an already excellent service to schools in the area. Such facilities ensure that all young people have access to library services and afford them the opportunity to explore literature, carry out research and experience new ideas, which otherwise might be barred to them. Experience shows us that such services provide excellent value for money and are evidence, if such is needed, that a modest investment can create far reaching benefits.”
In concluding, the Minister thanked the staff of the local library “for their continued professionalism, dedication and enthusiasm and their continued commitment to providing a high quality service to all sections of the community.”
Carrick-on-Suir library provides an essential service to 12,000 people delivering a range of services to all age groups. The library, built in 1978, has delivered a service to the people of Carrick-on Suir through its dedicated staff and spaces for nearly 30 years. Tipperary County Council has identified Carrick-on-Suir Library as one of the fastest growing libraries in County Tipperary. Its usage has increased by over 40% in the past 5 years.
Investment in libraries is a key pillars of Opportunities for All: A Strategy for Public Libraries, the Department’s public library policy document.