Second annual National Public Libraries Day Ireland takes place next Saturday

The second annual National Public Libraries Day Ireland occurs next Saturday 27 September, featuring nationwide free workshops and activities.

Libraries Ireland coordinates the ‘Take a Closer Look’ theme across over 300 branches. Offerings from the library encompass audiobooks, e-magazines, e-learning courses, and neurodiverse spaces at no cost.

Library membership is gratis, supported by Department of Rural and Community Development investments. Digital loans constitute nearly 40pc of borrowings post-pandemic.

Heather Humphreys shared: “The libraries serve everyone from toddlers discovering their first stories to seniors engaging in digital literacy workshops, all without a single euro in membership fees.”

Events include:

Children’s storytelling session with Irish folklore themes at Dún Laoghaire Library, 11am-12pm, suitable for ages 4-8.
Ukulele music performance and sing-along at Ardee Library in Louth, 2pm-3pm, open to all ages.
Book hunt treasure trail themed “Find Yourself in a World of Books” at Scarriff Library in Clare, running all day.
Beekeeping workshop and honey tasting demonstration at Ennistymon Library, 1pm-3pm, part of the Harvesting Sustainability programme.
Clothes swap shop and sustainable fashion talk at Ennistymon Library, 3pm-5pm, bring your pre-loved items.
Foraging for wild foods guided walk starting from Ennistymon Library, 11am-1pm, limited to 15 participants.
Beeswax candle-making craft session for families at Ennistymon Library, 2pm-4pm, materials provided.
Face painting and balloon modelling for kids at Ardee Library, 10am-1pm, drop-in event.
Author talk on local history with Q&A at Dundalk Library in Louth, 4pm-5pm, featuring a regional writer.
VR headset demonstrations and virtual reality tours of Irish landmarks at Dún Laoghaire Library, 12pm-2pm.
3D printing workshop for beginners at a Dublin city library branch, 1pm-3pm, book in advance.
eBook and audiobook reading circle discussion at Letterkenny Library in Donegal, 11am-12.30pm.
Poetry reading open mic night at Ballyshannon Library in Donegal, 7pm-9pm, sign up on arrival.
Coding club for teens using library computers at Inishowen Library, 3pm-5pm, no experience needed.
Mindfulness and reading therapy session at Raphoe Library, 10am-11am, for adults seeking calm.
Local history exhibition launch with curator talk at Carndonagh Library, 2pm-4pm.
Craft workshop making Irish bookmarks at Bundoran Library, 11am-1pm, for children.
Gardening talk on growing herbs at home, tied to library seed library, at Milford Library, 12pm-1pm.
Music jam session with traditional Irish instruments at Donegal Town Library, 4pm-6pm.
Sensory toy playtime for neurodiverse children at a Cork city library, 10am-12pm, supervised.
Digital art creation using library tablets at Limerick Library, 1pm-3pm, for ages 12+.
Robotics demo and build-your-own bot session at Galway Library, 2pm-4pm.
French language taster class via Zoom from a Laois library hub, 10.30am-11.30am.
Spanish conversation circle for beginners at Portlaoise Library, 11am-12pm.
eLearning course demo on job skills at Waterford Library, 3pm-4pm, free sign-up.
Board games afternoon for families at Kilkenny Library, 1pm-5pm, all games provided.
Photography exhibit opening of local landscapes at Sligo Library, 6pm-8pm, with artist meet-and-greet.
Yoga and gentle reading session at Athlone Library, 9am-10am, bring your own mat.
Debate club on “The Future of Libraries” at Maynooth Library, 7pm-8.30pm, open to public.
Puppet show based on classic Irish tales at Tralee Library, 11am and 2pm sessions.
Cooking demo using library cookbooks at Navan Library, 12pm-1.30pm, vegetarian focus.
Genealogy research drop-in clinic at Wexford Library, 10am-2pm, expert assistance.
Karaoke night with book-inspired songs at Bray Library, 8pm-10pm, family-friendly.
Eco-craft session recycling paper into art at Greystones Library, 2pm-4pm.
Astronomy talk with stargazing tips at Monaghan Library, 7pm-8pm, using library resources.
Dance workshop learning Irish step dancing at Carrickmacross Library, 3pm-5pm.
Book swap fair where attendees trade reads at Mullingar Library, 11am-3pm.
Meditation with Melissa, Longford Library, 11am