Inaugural NDA Excellence Through Accessibility Awards were presented to Dublin City Library and Archive, Pearse Street and Cabra branch library by Tainiste, Michael McDowell T.D. on behalf of the NDA at a ceremony in the Round Room of the Mansion House on Tuesday September 26th. The Awards were accepted by Dublin's new City Manager, Mr John Tierney and City Librarian, Ms.Deirdre Ellis-King.
City Manager, John Tierney said
"...I am delighted that Dublin City Public Libraries at Pearse Street and Cabra are among the first recipients of NDA awards for accessibility. This is well deserved, given our public library's commitment to ensuring equality of public access...".
These awards are based on a concept of continuing service improvement across a range of access issues, including building and service delivery. It is no surprise to note that of the four awards, three were presented to public libraries, acknowledging their long standing commitment to serve all sectors of society equally.
Ms Ellis-King commented
"...the acknowledgment is a welcome affirmation of the City Library Services role in the provision of fully accessible facilities for all, including people with disabilities - and I am delighted to note that of the four inaugural awards presented to public bodies, two were given to Dublin City Libraries...".
The branch library at Cabra, opened in 2001, provides extensive service to its local community through wide ranging collections and programmes of activity. These include public Internet access, the WEBsmart tuition programme, lectures, exhibitions, workshops, user education programmes and a range of special events for children, including storytelling and art classes. Staff offer quality assistance to people with disabilities, in particular those with visual impairment.
Dublin City Library and Archive in Pearse Street, already a winner of a Landmark Libraries Award in 2004 as a building of historical and architectural importance, was recognised as presenting challenges in its recreation as a library building of the future. That these challenges have been overcome to a large extent, is evidenced by the NDA commitment level award.
Dublin’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Vincent Jackson also pointed out that
"...the library provides a wonderfully accessible public amenity, not only for people living and working in the Pearse Street area, but also for researchers, genealogists and casual enquirers with an interest in Dublin from all over the world, containing as it does, both the library’s Dublin and Irish Collections and the official archive of Dublin City Council, dating back to the twelfth century".