Waterford City Library
Waterford City Library, also known as the Central Library, is a public library in Waterford, Ireland. It was the first to be built of Ireland's many Carnegie libraries. The philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who had previously opened libraries in Scotland and the US, himself laid the foundation stone in 1903.[1]
The library is built over Lady's Gate, part of the medieval city walls of the city.[2] The stump of the tower beside Lady's Gate on Lady Lane can be seen through glass in the floor of the library during library opening hours.[3]
Library Service in Waterford
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Central Library is the main branch of Waterford City and County Libraries, part of Waterford City and County Council. Waterford Libraries has 12 public library branches spread throughout Waterford City and County, with a centrally located headquarters on the outskirts of Waterford City.
Waterford Libraries are regularly used by 16,000 members and record in excess of 500,000 visits and 500,000 loans annually. Waterford's Central Library is one of eight Europe Direct centres in Ireland, part of a network of local contact points that serve as the direct link between citizens and the EU Institutions.
Architecture
[edit]The classical-style building was constructed on a corner site using Kilkenny limestone. It is a protected structure.[4] In 2004 the library was reopened after having been renovated by McCullogh Mulvin Architects for its centenary.[5]
Exhibition
[edit]Images of the library were featured at the Venice Biennale of Architecture of 2008.[6] The title of the exhibition in question, "Lives of Spaces", was intended to elicit multiple interpretations, "suggesting that, while spaces can contain many lives, they can equally live many lives themselves".[7]
See also
[edit]Carnegie went on to fund four more libraries in County Waterford:
References
[edit]- ^ (20 October 1903), "Waterford honors Carnegie", New York Times
- ^ "Waterford". Irish Walled Towns Network. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Pollock, Dave. "Medieval Waterford, City Walls and Towers – an illustrated guide" (PDF). irishwalledtownsnetwork.ie.
- ^ National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. "Waterford City Carnegie Free Library". Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ WorkGroup (14 July 2024). "Waterford City Library". McCullough Mulvin. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "Official website of the library". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
- ^ "Lives of Spaces". Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ^ Waterford Leader Partnership. "Ballyduff". Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ^ FUSIO. "Cappoquin Carnegie Free Library, Main Street, CAPPOQUIN, Cappoquin, WATERFORD". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "Tallow library". Retrieved 26 October 2019.
External links
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