COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

MOTION NO. 22

MOTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

Cathaoirleach's Business

"That the Manager would present for discussion at the meeting an updated Report on the work done by the Council and County Librarian to advance the proposed Digital Hub for Palmerstown project."

REPORT:

The Library service continues to search for funding streams for the Digital Hub project for the community of Palmerston and to investigate any possibilities which may present themselves.  In the current economic climate and with the National Capital Fund for Libraries currently uncertain the identification of resources is problematic.

The County Librarian recently met with the Executive Director of Corporate Affairs at Stewarts Hospital to discuss the joint library currently operated by the hospital and South Dublin County Council. The library building is very small and is in need of reorganisation and internal remodelling as well as additional shelving. It has been agreed between the two partner organisations that this work will be carried out over the coming months – determined by funding within existing budgets. New finger signs directing people to the library were put in place in Palmerston Village and on Mill Lane during the summer. A marketing campaign for the library is scheduled for January 2013 and the library has recently hosted several events as part of the Redline Book Festival.

Stewarts Hospital is planning to have a new primary school completed in Balgaddy by 2014 which will result in the existing primary school beside the Sports and Leisure Centre in Palmerston Village becoming vacant. A large hall in that school could make for an excellent library/digital hub – outside of the walls of the hospital, beside Waterstown Park and the leisure centre. The library service would be happy to further scope this project if it is deemed suitable and can be delivered within existing resources and with agreement from Stewarts Hospital. 

The County Librarian also met with the chairman of the management company of Palmerstown Community and Youth Centre to view the facility and ascertain if synergies might be created between the library service and the centre for the delivery of a service there. The large central hall in the centre which could serve as a library offering is a significant part of the income stream of the centre and joint usage between libraries and a myriad of local groups would be very problematic. The other rooms within the centre are too small to offer any possibilities for service delivery.

 Libraries recently organised three finger signs directly people to the library from Palmerston Village and Mill lane and this has resulted in slightly increased usage in recent months. A programme of marketing is also being planned for early in 2013 as library usage generally declines in the weeks leading up to Christmas.