Dublin City Library & Archive

Love Pearse Library. Downstairs is a public library on the left hand side and an exhibition space on the right hand side and upstairs has the Dublin City Archives Reading Room. The reading room holds the Dublin and Irish Collections, the Dix Collection of mainly 17^th and 18^th century Dublin and Irish imprints, the Yeats Collection, the Children’s Book Collection and imprints of publishers such as the Dun Emer and Cuala Press. A collection of Thom’s Dublin street directories and other Dublin and Irish directories is also maintained.
The librarians are extremely knowledgeable and helpful.

My mate dragged me here the other day and we both joined. He was ranting away about not being able to use the trinners 1 even though he did his masters there. Its open until 8 so that is quite good. There is a selection of dvds to rent and everything Gill said is on the ball.
Columbo like: Just 1 more thing, you are not allowed bring pens in just in case you mark the books. So get yourself a pencil sharpener.

Gilbert Library is also known as Dublin City Library and perhaps known as Dublin City Library more commonly hence the reason for a double entry.
A quite place in Pearse Street — which is unusual. They have a reading room downstairs, a large genealogy research room upstairs, a café and good toilet facilities.
There is also a large room for meetings, functions and exhibitions.
Picky bits — it is on Pearse Street which has got to be the nosiest street in Dublin. I sat in the reading room to choose a book and there is a very strange juddering type of vibration below the floor. It was so bad I had to find another seat.
Good bits — it is bright, clean, modern interior and very helpful staff.

This is within Pearse library and it’s the place to find copies of newspapers from a few weeks ago back to the 1800’s.
My Dad would always take me here each year to check the newspapers on the day I was born to see what was happening. Even though it was the same newspaper each year it never lost it’s thrill on me. There is something exciting about the connection you feel with the events that were happening the day you got life.
Well worth the visit especially if you can’t think of anything to do to fill a few hours.

Dublin City Library and Archive in my opinion has to be one of the Best if not the Best Library /​Archive in Dublin City. I may be biased myself but the building itself was totally revamped about 6 – 7 years ago. It is now state of art inside. Would you believe they even have Nelson’s Head on Display there. The Staff are all so friendly, helpful, organised and at the same time down to earth. If you are looking for a specific book, that they may not have on the shelve they will out of their way to find it in another Library for you. The Best Part is its a Free Public Service. They have Wifi and internet access there. The only things they charge for are overdue books/​DVDs and of course photocoping/​printing. However just make sure you have a Library card/​Research card when you go see them. If not bring Photo ID and a bill with proof of your address. Check out their Website at least before you decide to go.

Pearse Street Library looks rather large from the outside but general library members are only admitted into the area to the left. Many books across the range area available, as well as DVDs and music CDs. There are work areas and reading areas available plus the back wall is dedicated to computers with free Internet access for library members. Just ask at the desk to make a booking if it seems full. A peaceful place to spend some time or just to grab some books to go.

This is an excellent library — one of the treasure troves of Dublin, for anyone who wants to research, in particular local history. Founded by John Gilbert in 1898, many of its books have been bequeathed by him. With an excellent book resource and a fine microfilm archive of old newspapers, e.g. The Freeman’s journal. It’s also in a beautifully designed
building. But unlike other libraries, one can’t borrow books, so it’s purely for referencing material and pigeon hole research.
Finally, it is actually the upstairs of the Pearse Street branch of Dublin Corporation’s libraries, if one needs to orientate oneself.