In 2011, City Architects in association with Dublin City Libraries ran an innovative collaborative design project for branch libraries, which explored ways of improving children’s participation.

The Council teamed three architects up with three graphic designers to be “Designers in Residence” at Kevin Street, Raheny and Ballyfermot libraries. The designers were: Architecture Republic, TAKA Architects, George Boyle Designs, Zero-G, Detail and Radarstation. Over the course of the next school term they will work with groups of children from St. Brigid’s Boys NS, Raheny, St. Gabriel's NS, Ballyfermot and The Presentation Convent Junior School, Dublin 8.

The designers worked with primary schoolchildren to develop proposals for better connecting the library with other places of learning in the local community, whether this is the school, the study place in the home or otherwise.
The scheme, which was funded by the City’s Social Inclusion Unit, commenced in January, continuing for the rest of the 2011 school year. During this time the different groups of children participated in workshops with the designers where they investigated their libraries and neighbourhoods, identified issues and opportunities as they saw them and prototyped their solutions. The programme ended with an exhibition in the Civic Offices designed by Detail which was showcased as part of Dublin’s World Design Capital 2014 bid. The exhibition will be travelling to different libraries and Council Offices during 2011 – 2012.

The programme provided an enjoyable learning experience for the participants, who gained an early insight into how designers and the design process work, and for the Council, with the children’s ideas feeding into ongoing and planned renovation works at Ballyfermot and Kevin Street libraries.