COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF TERENURE-RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE (1)
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
MOTION NO. 5
MOTION: Councillor C. Keane
"That this Council discusses the provision of a local council presence/information area for South Dublin County Council in the Templeogue area e.g the provision of a local digital hub etc.etc taking into consideration that Templeogue and Rathfarnham were two separate wards originally and now are deprived of individual facilities i.e. one facility to service both areas, acknowledging the fine facility that is to be provided shortly at Ballyroan Library."
REPORT:
It is a priority of the Council to ensure that information and service access is available to all our citizens in all parts of the county. All methods to achieve this are considered and existing systems and facilities are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
With direct reference to the provision of a local council presence/information area for South Dublin County Council in the Templeogue area, there are currently two libraries in the area concerned: Ballyroan Library is in Orchardstown Avenue, approx. one mile from Templeogue Village and Whitechurch Library is in Taylor’s Lane, in the Rathfarnham / Ballyboden area.
As outlined on the motion there are plans to significantly expand Ballyroan Library, which is a full-time library open to the public for a considerable 54.5 hours each week. Whitechurch Library is a part-time library with 14 hours opening each week and there is also a mobile library service that visits the Templeogue area weekly.
Members are aware of the prevailing economic climate and the Council’s current specific focus on Capital Funding requirements for the period 2008-2010, with significant demands across all service and geographical areas. The works proposed for the Ballyroan Library are included in the current draft 3 Year Capital Programme under “projects planned but subject to availability of funding” and there are no plans other than the Ballyroan extension for public buildings in this area at this point in time due to the very significant capital costs associated with the development of such facilities.
As already outlined, the Council is proposing, subject to financial availability, to provide the following e-functionality at Ballyroan Library
- Internet access
- e-mail access
- Library catalogue access
- Ability to download e-books and e-audio in the Library.
- Renewal of books online
- Access to Borrowbooks which gives a borrower access to all the public library catalogues in Ireland and allows the borrower to reserve a book.
Whitechurch Library has access to all the above but naturally on a more limited basis due to the number of computers on site and fewer opening hours.
All our libraries provide internet access to the council website on the public access computers, all of which provide all the relevant information and contacts that are available. Libraries also publicize council events and display all notices as well as displaying Part 8’ public consultation information etc.
As with all of our service outlets, there is a strong emphasis on customer care in our Library service. It is intended in the proposed Ballyroan facility to provide a dedicated public access terminal linked to the Council’s website through which members of the public can access the ever-increasing range of web-based information and service request options available.