This page includes the following sections:

• Library Services
• Arts

 

LIBRARY SERVICES

Service Points:

• Callan
• Castlecomer
• City Library, John's Quay
• Co. Library Headquarters (Administration and Local Studies)
• Graiguenamanagh
• Loughboy
• Mobile Service
• Schools' Servic
• Thomastown
• Urlingford

 

A Community Service

If you can't come to us, we come to you. Our computerised Mobile Service makes 60 stops around the County, from Johnstown and Galmoy in the North to Glenmore and Slieverue in the South.

Another countywide service is the Schools' Library Service serving 77 primary schools, 9,404 children and their teachers. Schools are visited 3 times per school year for book exchanges.

 

A Family Service

The Library is a service for all the family. Whatever your age there is something for you. Perhaps you need general information for day to day living - an address; a new recipe, instructions on learning to drive, D.I.Y.; building a house; managing money; raising children etc. We cover these areas and much more.

We have books on all kinds of subjects from romances to thrillers, sports to fashion, whatever your interest. There are collections of paperbacks in our libraries. If we do not have a particular book in stock, we will do our best to get if for you, through our inter-branch and inter-library loan networks. Our Public Access Internet PC's can be used to book a holiday or flight and to access many other services and information. You can also use them to keep in touch with your family and friends around the Globe by e-mail

You can borrow CD's or cassettes, from Eminem to Andrea Bocelli - there's something for everyone. All our libraries have popular magazines that can be borrowed and newspapers for reading in the library. Large print books, books on tape, language course, and some CD-ROMs, are also available. We have comprehensive Reference Sections and staff can help to find what is needed, be it for study, interest, research, or just for fun.

Library membership for children under 14 years is FREE! Children are never too young to join and we have everything for reading, information, study and leisure - from babies to teenagers. All our libraries have books and tapes for children, while some branches have toys for playing with in the library. Lots of children's activities take place in our library branches including: an annual Children's Book Festival, Book clubs etc. and a Mother and Toddler Group at Castlecomer Library.

We have a well stocked Local Studies Department at Co. Library H.Q, Whether you are doing a thesis for a Local Studies Degree, writing a local parish history, interested in checking old newspapers for hurling match reports, looking up your family history, we can help. We answer hundreds of enquiries every year, in person, and by telephone, letter and E-mail. Our stock includes: 1901 and 1911 censuses, local papers from Finn's Leinster Journal of 1767 to present day Kilkenny People. The 1911 census is a recent acquisition and a location index is currently being created. You will also find some general local studies files in your local branch library.

Libraries are for everybody including, people who can't read very well and who would like to improve their skills, and people who can't read at all. We help through our Literacy collections and by providing facilities for Adult Literacy tutorials.

Teresa Mullen (County Council Chairperson), donating a copy of her Thesis for the B.A. in Local and Community Studies to Kilkenny County Library.

[L-R] Michael Malone (County Manager), James Fogarty (County Librarian), Teresa Mullen (County Council Chairperson)

 

Highlights of our 2002 Programme

Children's Book Festival: 29th October - 1st November 2002
Events and activities were held in all branches. There were art and craft sessions which produced, books, bookmarks, chalk art, Halloween crafts and painted wellies! For the under sixes there was 'Gymboree music on the go', a music workshop with instruments, shakers, dancing and poetry. There were author visits, with Tony Hickey and Liam Farrell, who told his story "The True story of the three little pigs" in full wolf costume. There were also stories at bedtime and with Mother Goose (see image below). For the nighttime stories, the audience came in their pyjamas with teddies in tow. Other activities included an Inter-branch library quiz, presentations of Summer Reading Club certificates and voting for the most favourite children's book in Ireland.

 

Kilkenny Arts Festival 2002
Tutti Fruttis Production "Humpty goes SPLATT!" took place in Castlecomer, Graiguenamanagh, Urlingford and Thomastown Libraries while children's author Siobhan Parkinson visited Loughboy Library.

Bealtaine Festival
During May, Castlecomer Library staff ran a series of talks for older people entitled 'The Time of your Life', which included such subjects: as Tai Chi, Flower Arranging, Holistic Health, Your Rights, and Retirement and the Law.

Babies Love Books 2002
This scheme provided for a book pack containing five colourful children's picture and board books with accompanying parents guide, to be given to children by their local Public Health Nurse at their nine month developmental check up. Kilkenny County Library Service managed this nationwide project at local level. Over 5,000 books and guides were packed by Library staff - together with a insert about books and library membership for children - and delivered to all Health Centres Countywide. A local launch of the scheme was held in the City Library on the 11th March, attended by a number of Public Health Nurses from around the County.

Relocation of Co. Library H.Q
Kilkenny County Library Service's Administration, Local Studies and Schools' Service relocated to 6 Rose Inn St, Kilkenny in September. Members of the Public have warmly welcomed the new Local Studies Research Room, with additional space for our 2 Microform Reader Printers and an enhanced study area.

 

Helping the Elderly - Andy Comerford (Kilkenny Senior Hurling Team Captain) presents the winner of a library raffle for the Castlecomer Day Care Centre with a hurley signed by the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Team

 

Library Statistics 2002:

• 204,000 Library visits.
• 8,394 Registered Borrowers.
• 280,104 Items loaned.
• 9,501 Internet Access Sessions.

 

Library Service Indicators 2002 (Latest):

Opening Hours per week = 184

Opening Hours per week (average) = 26

 

No. of Items Issued Per Head of Population:

Books	5.98
Other Items	1.25

 

 

ARTS SECTION

The role of the Arts Office is many things including:

• developing and co-ordinating artistic activity within the City and County.
• ensuring balanced cultural arts provision through encouraging local arts and by promoting touring arts.
• motivating and inspiring enthusiasm for the arts by promoting it as a worthwhile and positive activity for all.
• advising, assisting and supporting persons, groups and organisations.
• helping to make the arts a realistic career choice for people.
• broadening and enriching participation both in regards to audiences and those directly involved in events.
• also working with others to help bring the arts closer to local communities.
• keeping the arts high on peoples agenda.

 

Visual Arts

There were a total of eight visual art exhibitions held in County Hall in 2002.

• The first exhibition consisted of three dimensional work by local artist, Maria Casey and ran from January - March.
• In April the local I.C.A. group exhibited a textile hanging.
• The third exhibition in May by artist Joan Fitzgerald was an exhibition of drawings and the Kilkenny School of Art & Design showcased their work in June.
• This was followed by an exhibition of Fine Art Prints by Sue Freeman in July.
• The sixth exhibition ran from August to October entitled "Five Years On". This was a group exhibition highlighting the work of recent graduates based in or originating from Kilkenny.
• In October "Space for Kids" was exhibited. This was a selection of creations made by the children who had attended the Summer Art Camps.
• A Photography exhibition ran from November to December

 

Literature

In 2002 the Poetry Broadsheet was published for the fourth time giving writers a local platform for their work. A writers weekend was held in Clogh and there was also support for group publications.

 

Theatre

In 2002 rural schools had the opportunity to avail of a grant and a subsidy towards Kilkenny based theatre projects in order to enable them to attend professional productions in the city. There was also support for youth drama development and training workshops.

 

Music

The Duiske Concert Season was held, bringing high calibre Classical and Traditional musicians to the 13th century Duiske Abbey, including, Anya Alexeyev, the Vienna Boys Choir, Hugh Tinney, Catherine Leonard, Paddy Glacken, Micheal O'Domhnaill, his sisters Maighread and Triona and Robbie Hannan.

 

Community / Youth Arts

There was an increase in Community Arts knowledge and involvement by way of workshops, lectures and visits including highlighting community awareness of the Per cent for Art Scheme. There was also an Advice and Skills Course for second level students intending to go into third level Art Courses.

 

Arts Bursaries

There were a total of three Arts Bursaries for artists working within visual, performance, music and literature to assist career development through further education or development of projects.

Contributions to other bodies, i.e. Watergate Theatre, Rothe House Museum, Barnstorm Youth Theatre, FAS Training Scheme, Arts Act Grants.

 

New Arts Officer

Ms. Mary Butler, a native of Kilkenny City, was appointed Arts Officer during 2002.