8 March 2022
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan has officially opened the new Kanturk Library. Situated in Market Square in the heart of Kanturk town, this user-friendly facility replaces the old mobile library bus in the mart and will be open 40 hours a week through lunch and have three staff.
The library occupies a ground floor space of 173m2 and is easily accessible from Market Square. Members can choose from a selection of almost 17,000 books, with a dedicated space for younger children to have storytelling, which is already proving very popular.
Kanturk Library has been specially equipped with customised furniture and technology. The €152,000 fit-out cost includes free access to Wi-Fi, which is available throughout, supporting the community to study, work, create and play.
Pictured having a quite read is the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan at the official opening of the new Kanturk Library on Monday 7th March. Photo by Sean Jefferies Photography.
Pictured is the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan and Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey, pictured at the official opening of the new Kanturk Library on Monday 7th March. The library, centrally located in Market Square, occupies 173m2 of ground floor space and features a €152,0000 fit out, free access to Wi-Fi, over 17,000 books and a self-service kiosk. The library will be open Tuesday to Saturday through lunch. Photo by Sean Jefferies Photography.
Pictured is the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan and Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey with Cllr. Liam Madden, Cllr. John Paul O”Shea, James Fogarty Divisional Manager North, Cork County Council, Cllr Gerard Murphy, Cllr. Bernard Moynihan, Niall Healy Director of Services MD Ops & Rural Development, Cllr. Ian Doyle and Michael Moynihan, TD pictured at the official opening of the new Kanturk Library on Monday 7th March. Photo by Sean Jefferies Photography.
Mayor Coughlan was delighted to cut the ribbon on the new facility, saying “Libraries help build communities; it doesn’t matter how old you are or what your ability is, and now you have a wonderful library situated in the heart of the community to help you build this community through diverse and shared interests”
Library Members will be able to use the self-service kiosk to borrow and return books.
Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey, highlighted how, “The role of our Library service has never been more important in our communities, both for providing access to materials and resources and for promoting literacy and improving the overall quality of life. Libraries encourage footfall which provides opportunities for other businesses and organisations around them and revitalises and area”
Kanturk Library serves 2 primary and 2 secondary schools in the region. Regular class visits will be facilitated as well as arts and literature events for students and teachers. The library also provides extensive literacy support. Is it a registered Eduroam wireless hotspot that allows third-level students to access their university network from the comfort of the new Kanturk Library.
The library is staffed by a team of three experienced staff with plans to host events such as lectures and educational workshops.