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Autumn is the perfect time to turn over a new leaf and try something new!Why not start learning a new language, try a university course, develop your digital skills for work and/or leisure, pick from over 400 free online courses or enrol for the Lord Mayor's Certificate in Oral History. Here are just some of the learning opportunities available at your library this Autumn.The Lord Mayor’s Certificate in Oral HistoryThe Lord Mayor’s Certificate in Oral History is offered by Dublin City Council as part of its commitment to life-long learning. The course will equip participants with skills in the preparation and conduct of oral history projects, including best practice in the collection and archiving of oral history interviews. It examines the wealth of recorded oral narrative sources in Ireland in both oral history and folklore.Classes are held on Monday evening to facilitate attendance by a broad range of people. Commencing in September 2017, the course will be taught at Pearse Street Library, Dublin 2. The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 15 September 2017.Communiversity ProgrammeCommuniversity is a programme where people can attend higher education courses in the familiar surroundings of their local library. The initiative is facilitated by Dublin City Public Libraries in conjunction with the Northside Partnership, Dublin South City Partnership, Ballyfermot Partnership and the Department of Adult and Community Education, Maynooth University. Students have completed modules in local history, politics and philosophy, economics, psychology and Chinese studies and media studies.The programme is run once a year over a number of weeks. If you are interested in attending Communiversity programme, please enquire at the following libraries: Ballyfermot, Coolock, Dolphin’s Barn and Walkinstown.Getting Citizens OnlineGetting Citizens Online is an initiative of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. This programme offers 10 hours free tuition to a complete beginner at Cabra and Coolock Libraries this November. By the end of the course, learners will know how to use the internet from setting up email, to using search engines and making calls over the internet.Other course content looks at specific government online services, social media, video, tv and radio, instructional videos on Youtube and some digital photography. The following libraries will provide this course on tablets which are very easy to use. The course is run in the mornings and afternoons.Basic internet searching will be available in other locations throughout the year. Please email [email protected] for further information.Open Learning Centre ProgrammeUpskill in languages and basic computer applications with two excellent resources available from the Open Learning Centre in the Central Library.Utalk is a language app tool widely used for improving language.With Microsoft Imagine Academy, you can access a suite of programmes such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. You can benefit from an extensive digital curriculum and certifications for fundamental technology skills as well as courses critical for success in today’s technologically evolving world.You can use the above from anywhere once you first sign up at the Open Learning Centre 01 8734333 / [email protected] Class: eResourceUniversal Class offers a unique online education experience. There are over 400 courses available on a diverse range of subjects. Learn to create a website, plan on writing a novel, overcome your fear of maths or touch up some old photos. You will never be bored with Universal Class. There is something here for everyone.The courses involve real instructors to guide your learning and video-based lessons. Register using your Dublin City Library membership card barcode number. Register atwww.LGMA.universalclass.com/register.htmlYou can learn in your own time, at your own pace.Mango Languages: eResourceMango Languages is an online resource that teaches real conversations in over 70 foreign languages. Use your library membership card barcode number to register and create a username and password. You can use Mango on your phone or tablet by downloading the Mango Languages App from Google Play - Android | iTunes - iOS. Please note that once registered for Mango, you will need to follow the link from our website whenever you wish to login and use the service (i.e. bookmarking the Mango page will not suffice).Happy learning!

Dublin City Library and Archive Digital Repository, digital.libraries.dublincity.ie, provides people in Dublin and throughout the world with free and easy access to the rich collections of Dublin City Libraries and Archive. 

Last Wednesday (26th August) saw the formal launch of a new website hosting a range of databases totalling over 5 million records. The databases are useful for genealogy, local history and social history. Many of the databases were previously available and searchable separately on dublinheritage.ie, but the new site - databases.dublincity.ie - allows for integrated and enhanced searching while also giving access to an even greater number of databases.Speakers at the launch included the noted genealogist John Grenham, who carried out much of the work in the delivery of the site, Dublin City Archivist Dr. Mary Clark, Senior Archivist  Ellen Murphy, Deputy City Librarian Brendan Teeling, the Director of the National Archives John McDonough, and City Councillor Vincent Jackson.View the following photo slideshow of the launch. About databases.dublincity.iedatabases.dublincity.ie brings together a number of databases produced by the Libraries and Archive Service. Most of the original records from which the databases are created are held by Dublin City Library & Archive, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2.The databases featured and included in the combined search are:Community Memory - a database of plaques and public memorials throughout the City.Dublin Directory 1647-1708 - a database of Dubliners compiled from a variety of sources.Ancient freemen of Dublin (1461 to 1491, and 1564 to 1774) - a database of all those on the who were entered into the Freedom of the City by the City Assembly.Dublin City Electoral Lists 1908 to 1915 - a database of all those registered to vote in municipal elections.Dublin City Electoral Lists 1938 to 1964 - a database of all those registered to vote in local elections. The Dublin City Electoral Lists 1937-64 have been taken down from this site.  For more information, please e-mail [email protected] Graveyards Directory - a database with details of all graveyards in the Dublin area.Cemetery Burial Registers (Clontarf, Drimnagh, and Finglas) - a database of those buried in three now closed cemeteries which are under the control of Dublin City Council.Two other databases included on the site - The Monica Roberts Collection and the most recent addition, the Index to Dublin City Council Minutes 1881-1987, are not included in the combined search and need to be searched separately.The Database of Baptisms for Dublin Parishes, the Database of Marriages for Dublin Parishes, and the Database of Burials for Dublin Parishes, compiled by Dublin City Public Libraries and Archive and previously available on dublinheritage.ie, have been incorporated into the Irish Genealogy website and form a significant portion of the total records available on that website.More databases will be added as they are completed.