Newsletter to Speak Volumes About Library Activities

Clare Champion, Friday, 11th April 2008

Libraries may be known as quiet places, but the De Valera Library was Speaking Volumes this week. Clare County Library launched the first edition of a new library newsletter entitled Speaking Volumes at the Ennis Library on Tuesday. And this is to be the first in what will be a regular publication.

Speaking at the launch, Tom Coughlan, Town Manager, explained, "this newly launched newsletter will provide information for library members and non-members as to what is happening in the local library". There are 14 million visits to Irish public libraries every year. In Clare, almost 18,000 people joined or rejoined a library branch during 2007. This figure shows a 3% increase over the previous year. Carrie Stafford, Acting County Librarian, added, "In fact, in each of the last three years, membership numbers in the county’s libraries have shown a continuous upward trend".

Also at the launch, Mayor of Clare, Patricia McCarthy, said, "These days the services provided by Clare County Library go far beyond the lending of books. CDs, DVDs, audio books for the visually impaired, Internet access, magazines and newspapers are available, while a variety of events and activities for children and adults take place throughout the year. This newsletter will provide information on what is going on in a library near you".

Copies of Speaking Volumes will be available from all libraries in Clare and from many community and business outlets throughout the county. It is hoped that the newsletter will strengthen links between library staff and library users and will attract new members of the public to the county's libraries.

Councillor Pat Hayes, Chairman of the Community and Culture SPC, added, "Current members may be surprised at how little they really know about their library service while others may be surprised to learn just how much they have been missing".

Members of the public can check with their local branch for details or can call Clare Library Headquarters at 065-6846350, email mailbox@clarelibrary.ie, or log on to www.clarelibrary.ie.

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