Blogs

Now is a wonderful time to start watching and supporting our feathered friends. It is even a great time to listen to them, given that the noise from traffic on our roads and the skies is much reduced. Seagulls in particular, are very plentiful at the moment, and it sometimes seems as if they are the only birds around.However, there are also plenty of sparrows, starlings, robins (everyone loves a robin) and many other small birds around. What is even better is that many of them have nests with chicks, some of whom have already fledged, but many still not quite hardy enough to leave the safety of their cosy nest.It is likely that some of these have nested near your home, regardless of where you live. So whether you live in an apartment, a house or a in an isolated, rural location, keep your eyes and ears open. If you are interested in trying to identify the different birds you might come across, www.irishgardenbirds.ie has a nice user friendly guide to the top twenty most common birds.Press Reader has some great wildlife magazines and all FREE to Dublin City Library members. BBC Wildlife magazine for example is always full of information, not just about birds, but all kinds of animals. Birds and Blooms is another terrific magazine free to our members, and is especially good if you want to encourage more birds into your garden. To access these register for Press Reader, sign in with your Dublin City Library card and you're ready to go. Watch our handy how to video.And let's not forget our very own Birdwatch Ireland. They have wonderful tips and information on www.birdwatchireland.ie. We were fortunate enough in Finglas Library to meet some of their Dublin Tolka branch, when they paid us a visit on Libraries Open Day on February 29th. So, there is no excuse! Get watching, listening for and learning about our feathered friends with Dubin City Libraries.Submitted by Maeve from Finglas library.

For this 'Spring into Storytime' session we have chosen What Matters, written by Alison Hughes and illustrated by Holly Hatam. This is a story about a boy who picks up one piece of litter. The story shows how this one good deed makes such a big difference. This April, we are choosing one story per day from the TumbleBook Library collection for you to enjoy. To find the story just log into Tumble Book Library and search for the title What Matters. This book is suitable for ages 3-7.About TumbleBookHave you checked out details of TumbleBook Library and how to acces it on our website? TumbleBook Library is a curated database of over 1100 children’s e-books, and includes their unique animated, talking picture books, read-along chapter books, national geographic videos, non-fiction books, playlists, as well as books in Spanish and French.It's full of great stories to listen to with videos showing all of the wonderful illustrations. You can even follow the text as the story is being read to you.To learn more about how to use Tumblebooks please check out our how to video.

For this Spring into Storytime session we have chosen 'The Biggest Job of All', written by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Lauren Browne. Lulu wants a really big, important job when she grows up but she has no idea what that could be. Join Lula as she considers lots of jobs from being a doctor to washing elephants.This April, we are choosing one story per day from the TumbleBook Library collection for you to enjoy. To find today's story just log into Tumble Book Library and search for the title.About TumbleBookCheck out details of TumbleBook Library and how to acces it on our website? TumbleBook Library is a curated database of over 1100 children’s e-books, and includes their unique animated, talking picture books, read-along chapter books, national geographic videos, non-fiction books, playlists, as well as books in Spanish and French.It's full of great stories to listen to with videos showing all of the wonderful illustrations. You can even follow the text as the story is being read to you.To learn more about how to use Tumblebooks please check out our how to video.

For our story book choice today, we introduce you to Bailey the dog. Enjoy this fun story as Bailey spends a day at school.  This April, we are choosing one story per day from the TumbleBook Library collection for you to enjoy. To find today's story just log into Tumble Book Library and search for the title.About TumbleBookCheck out details of TumbleBook Library and how to access it on our website. TumbleBook Library is a curated database of over 1100 children’s e-books, and includes their unique animated, talking picture books, read-along chapter books, national geographic videos, non-fiction books, playlists, as well as books in Spanish and French.It's full of great stories to listen to with videos showing all of the wonderful illustrations. You can even follow the text as the story is being read to you.To learn more about how to use Tumblebooks please check out our how to video. 

This period of temporary enforced downtime certainly presents us all with many grave challenges, but it also provides some exciting opportunities. If you, like me, have long intended but could never quite find the time to convert your precious personal and family memorabilia into stunning and unique family history albums, now is your big chance! Raise your dopamine levels and let your creative juices flow!  Learn the art and discover the joy of scrapbooking.You’ll find everything you need here in our one-stop-shop of online courses - all FREE and all available with your Dublin City library card.RBdigital eMagazinesWe have a fabulous selection of eMagazines for scrapbook hobbyists.Scrapbooking Memories:Without a doubt, the one-stop source of inspiration for scrapbookers with loads of innovative designs, step-by-step guides, fresh ideas and the latest scrapbooking techniques.You can also check out back issues of the following two titles:Scrapbooks Etc. Page Planner :This publication offers more than 130 sketches and finished layouts with inspirational tips and ideas for personalising your projects.ScrapBook Inspirations:Create perfect pages with the ultimate guide to scrapbooking.Register for RB Digital magazines. On your first visit, create a new account (inputting your Dublin City library membership card number) and complete registration. Select your library from the drop-down list ('Dublin City Libraries'). Email address required. Once registered you use your email address to login.PressReaderYou can also access digital magazines on PressReader, and here’s two that will be of interest to the scrapbooker.Papercraft  InspirationsCardmaking and PapercraftRegister for PressReader with your Dublin City Library membership card barcode number .Universal ClassAnd wait… there’s more!  Universal Class provides access to over 500+ online courses including scrapbook crafting courses:  one dedicated course and other related courses:Traditional Scrapbooking  101:In this comprehensive course, the beginner scrapbooker will learn how to start their scrapbooking hobby without being overwhelmed. Everything from choosing the right supplies to getting started to tips for journaling is included in easy-to-follow lessons, reflecting the wide variety of scrapbooking styles and themes popular today.Wedding Crafts and Projects:This wedding crafts course includes more inspiration, plus designs for paper crafts, floral crafts, favors, bridal party gifts, scrapbooking and more.Journaling and Memoir Writing:This is a comprehensive step-by-step guide that will demystify the process of finally putting your story on paper.You might also like to check out other related courses on Universal Class.Genealogy:In this course you can hone your research skills to uncover your family’s records and history for permanent preservation.Digital photography  101Digital photography with the iPhonePhotography 101 Beginner to IntermediateThese three photography courses will help you to upskill and to capture great family memories for your albums.Western CalligraphyYou will be able to use your new-found calligraphy skills to draw amazing letters on cards, stationary, bags, memory pages in your scrapbooks, photo albums covers, clothing, walls, wood, frames, lunch bags, and many other surfaces.Universal Class courses include tutorials, lessons, assignments, discussion boards, and feedback on work you’ve submitted. All the courses are completely online, self-paced, available 24/7, and you have 6 months to complete each one.Register for Universal Class using your Dublin City Library membership card barcode number.I really hope you find these resources useful and inspirational. Happy scrapbooking! 

We have for some time provided online access in our branch libraries to the complete issues of Irish newspapers via our subscription to 'The Irish Times Newspaper Archive' and to the 'Irish Newspaper Archive'. Both subscriptions provide access to full digital copy and a search facility; the Irish Newspaper Archive giving access to most (all?) of the regional papers plus the Irish Independent and the Irish Examiner.Important to bear in mind though that the most recent issues (in both subscriptions) may not be available, i.e. most recent daily will be some 7 to 10 days old, while weekly papers may not include the most recent issue.A handy point of access to these subscriptions is provided on our Netvibes-based portal (note: both subscriptions available on library computers only).ProQuest Newspaper SearchNow too we are providing access via ProQuest to the full-text articles in c.850 newspapers worldwide, including Irish national and regional papers.  The Irish national papers include The Irish Examiner (Jan 2011 - present), The Irish Independent (June 2006 - present), and The Irish Times (Jan 1995 - present).  Good to note that a look at some daily papers, Irish and others, indicates that coverage appears to include most recent issues, today's in some instances. Today's Irish Times, for example, includes some 150 items. The same cannot be said though for the regional papers, a check on a number indicates that the most recent issues included had a November or December date.You should note that ProQuest does not give you access to the digital copy of a newspaper, but rather the full text of articles plus citations and abstracts. Good to note too that the articles of some newspapers that otherwise require a subscription to view (e.g. The Times in the UK) are fully available via the ProQuest database.How do I access this wonderful new resource you might ask? Follow this link to ProQuest and insert your library membership card barcode number. That's it! And you can access it from anywhere!Each issue of every newspaper is indexed thoroughly, so researchers have access to not only top news stories but also detailed information on sports, business, and the arts around the world.ProQuest Title list (incl. period of coverage for each title) (this link will download an Excel spreadsheet).This service is provided for the public library service by ProQuest,  with delivery arranged by Libraries Development, Local Government Management Agency. Visit the Libraries Ireland website.View the full range of online resources available courtesy of your library.

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.