Research Facilities at Dublin City Library and Archive

The Dublin and Irish Local Studies Collection offers a research facility to Second Level History and Geography students preparing for the Leaving Certificate.

At a central location on Pearse Street, the Research Reading Room is open to students who wish to use the resources of the library. These include an unparalleled collection of material on Irish history, with particular emphasis on the Dublin area.

Resources

Students can use the library to

• Access the collection of over 225,000 books and hundreds of periodicals relating to Ireland, its history and its historical personalities. Our stock includes books which date from as far back as the 15th century to those published up to the present day.
• Commence research on significant individuals in modern Irish history. The library has created project files on these individuals, which contain basic biographical information, some primary source material and a guide to further research.
• Study the collection of newspapers and periodicals - which include many from the 19th and 20th centuries. Such primary sources often provide new insights and new ways of looking at history.
• Use genealogical resources to trace their family tree, our maps, files and street directories to discover the history of their locality and our photographs and print collections to obtain a vivid picture of what it was like to live in Ireland in times gone by.

Focus on the Leaving Certificate History Research Study

What sources are available in the Dublin City Library and Archive Collections for your Research Study? How many primary sources do you need to consult?

Watch our slideshow to find out more the project requirements, as well as examples of library sources for three significant individuals and their involvement in Irish history – Lady Ishbel Aberdeen, Daniel O’Connell and Archbishop Rinuccini.

(Cannot view slide? Read the slideshow transcript here.)

Membership

Membership is free and open to all post Junior Certificate students. Students will need to supply proof of identity, such as a Scholar Card, a Passport or Youth Card. We do not offer open study space to students and each student will be required to respect the conditions of membership.

Each second level student will also be provided with a pack which includes a guide to our collections, instructions on how to use the Reading Room and finding tools such as catalogues and other lists and helpful hints on how to use the different kinds of sources available to the student of history.

Second Level Students' Pack