Trinity College Library, Dublin
Encyclopedia
Trinity College Library Dublin, the centrally-administered library
of Trinity College
, Dublin
, is the largest library in Ireland
. As a "copyright library", it has legal deposit
rights for material published in the Republic of Ireland
; it is also the only Irish library to hold such rights for the United Kingdom
.
The library is also the permanent home to the famous Book of Kells
. Two of the four volumes are on public display, one opened to a major decorated page and the other to a typical page of text. The volumes and pages shown are regularly changed.
The current librarian, Robin Adams, is Chair of the Irish Universities Association
Librarians' Group.
Staff and students of the University of Dublin also have access to the libraries of Tallaght Hospital
and the Irish School of Ecumenics
, Milltown
.
, Dublin:
Further materials are held in storage, either in closed access stacks on campus or at a book depository in the Dublin suburb of Santry
.
Starting at 4 pm on Saturday 29 November 2009, the Trinity Students' Union organised a 24 hour sit-in in protest at a reduced book-buying budget, lack of access to books on Sundays, and a proposed reduction of counter services.
(1625–56), Archbishop of Armagh, whose most important works were "Veterum Epistolarum Hibernicarum Sylloge", published in 1632, and "Brittanicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates", which appeared in 1639, left his valuable library, comprising several thousand printed books and manuscripts, to Trinity College, Dublin, and his complete works were published by that institution in twenty-four volumes.
's Copyright and Related Rights Act, 2000, the Library is entitled, along with the National Library of Ireland
and the libraries of the National University of Ireland
, the University of Limerick
, and Dublin City University
, to receive a copy of all works published in the Republic of Ireland. Also, as a result of the British
Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003
, which continues a more ancient right dating from 1801, the Library is entitled, along with the British Library
, the Bodleian Library
at Oxford
, Cambridge University Library
, the National Library of Wales
and the National Library of Scotland
, to receive a copy on request of all works published in the United Kingdom
.
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
of Trinity College
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, Dublin
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
, is the largest library in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. As a "copyright library", it has legal deposit
Legal deposit
Legal deposit is a legal requirement that a person or group submit copies of their publications to a repository, usually a library. The requirement is mostly limited to books and periodicals. The number of copies varies and can range from one to 19 . Typically, the national library is one of the...
rights for material published in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
; it is also the only Irish library to hold such rights for the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The library is also the permanent home to the famous Book of Kells
Book of Kells
The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript Gospel book in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. It was created by Celtic monks ca. 800 or slightly earlier...
. Two of the four volumes are on public display, one opened to a major decorated page and the other to a typical page of text. The volumes and pages shown are regularly changed.
The current librarian, Robin Adams, is Chair of the Irish Universities Association
Irish Universities Association
The Irish Universities’ Association is the representative body of the heads of the seven Irish universities and is based at NUI offices in Merrion Square, Dublin...
Librarians' Group.
Staff and students of the University of Dublin also have access to the libraries of Tallaght Hospital
Tallaght Hospital
The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin, incorporating the National Children's Hospital , often referred to simply as Tallaght Hospital , is a teaching hospital in Tallaght, County Dublin, Ireland. Its academic partner is the University of Dublin, Trinity College...
and the Irish School of Ecumenics
Irish School of Ecumenics
The Irish School of Ecumenics is a new discipline within an aspirant School at Trinity College Dublin, and existed as an independent entity until negotiating admission to Trinity College about a decade ago. The ISE is dedicated to the promotion of ecumenism, religious reconciliation and interfaith...
, Milltown
Milltown, Dublin
Milltown , Dublin 6, Ireland, is a suburb on the southside of Dublin. The townland got its name well before the 18th or 19th century. Both Milltown and Clonskeagh were "Liberties" of Dublin, following the English invasion and colonisation in 1290....
.
Buildings
The Library proper occupies several buildings, four of which are on the campus of Trinity College itself and another at St. James's HospitalSt. James's Hospital
St. James's Hospital , also known as SJH, is the largest university teaching hospital in Dublin, Ireland. Its academic partner is the University of Dublin...
, Dublin:
- the Old Library, incorporating:
- the Early Printed Books Reading Room;
- the Manuscripts Reading Room;
- the Berkeley/Lecky/Ussher (BLU) Libraries complex, incorporating:
- the Berkeley Library (including the Multimedia Area);
- the Lecky Library;
- the Ussher Library;
- the Glucksman Map Library and Conservation Department;
- the Hamilton Science and Engineering Library;
- the 1937 Reading Room (for postgraduate use);
- the John Stearne Medical Library, housed at St James's Hospital.
Further materials are held in storage, either in closed access stacks on campus or at a book depository in the Dublin suburb of Santry
Santry
Santry is a suburb on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland, bordering Coolock, Glasnevin and Ballymun. Today it straddles the boundary of Dublin City and Fingal County Council area....
.
Starting at 4 pm on Saturday 29 November 2009, the Trinity Students' Union organised a 24 hour sit-in in protest at a reduced book-buying budget, lack of access to books on Sundays, and a proposed reduction of counter services.
History
James UssherJames Ussher
James Ussher was Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland between 1625–56...
(1625–56), Archbishop of Armagh, whose most important works were "Veterum Epistolarum Hibernicarum Sylloge", published in 1632, and "Brittanicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates", which appeared in 1639, left his valuable library, comprising several thousand printed books and manuscripts, to Trinity College, Dublin, and his complete works were published by that institution in twenty-four volumes.
Legal Deposit Library status
According to the Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
's Copyright and Related Rights Act, 2000, the Library is entitled, along with the National Library of Ireland
National Library of Ireland
The National Library of Ireland is Ireland's national library located in Dublin, in a building designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism is the member of the Irish Government responsible for the library....
and the libraries of the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
, the University of Limerick
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
, and Dublin City University
Dublin City University
Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland...
, to receive a copy of all works published in the Republic of Ireland. Also, as a result of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003
Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003
The Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which regulates the legal deposit of publications in the United Kingdom. It was a private member's bill which was passed to update the legislation on legal deposit to reflect the digital age.The previous...
, which continues a more ancient right dating from 1801, the Library is entitled, along with the British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
, the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, Cambridge University Library
Cambridge University Library
The Cambridge University Library is the centrally-administered library of Cambridge University in England. It comprises five separate libraries:* the University Library main building * the Medical Library...
, the National Library of Wales
National Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales , Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales; one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies.Welsh is its main medium of communication...
and the National Library of Scotland
National Library of Scotland
The National Library of Scotland is the legal deposit library of Scotland and is one of the country's National Collections. It is based in a collection of buildings in Edinburgh city centre. The headquarters is on George IV Bridge, between the Old Town and the university quarter...
, to receive a copy on request of all works published in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Further reading
- Fox, PeterPeter Fox (librarian)Peter Kendrew Fox is a British professional librarian. After eight years service in Cambridge University Library he moved to Dublin as deputy librarian of Trinity College in 1979; in 1984 he became College Librarian and Archivist...
Treasures of the Library: Trinity College Dublin. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, 1986 ISBN 9780901714459 - Fox, Peter "The Librarians of Trinity College", in: Vincent Kinane, Anne Walshe, eds., A History of Trinity College Library, Dublin. Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2000 ISBN 1-85182-467-7