Once upon a time in a land far far way (1884 in Thomas Street and Capel Street to be precise) Dublin's first two municipal public libraries were opened. And now, 150 years later, you're using QR codes and phones to open our website.
To show just how far we've come, we’re inviting you to check out our ebooks, audiobooks, eMagazines and eNewspapers. All for free through BorrowBox.
Whether you're already a member, or new to our libraries, everyone is welcome to explore our fantastic eResources.
The e-resource featured in this week’s blog is World Book Online. A suite of three websites from the publishers of the famous World Book encyclopedias. Supplying you with accurate information at age appropriate levels in a controlled safe learning environment.From pre-primary to secondary school – from the wobblers and toddlers to tweenies – World Book provides fast and accurate information at every level in an immersive learning environment. The information is reliable, age-appropriate, and easy to read and comprehend.· Early World of Learning for ages 3 to 6 years: this is a resource for preschoolers and children in early primary education. Developed with experts on early childhood education, it offers rich resources designed for the younger child.(An example of a webpage on World Book Online)· Kids for ages 7 to 11 years: this is a premier reference website developed especially for young students. It features an intuitive user interface, thousands of easy-to-read articles packed with stunning illustrations, videos, interactive maps, and a wealth of engaging games and activities.(Example of the search function on World Book Online)· Student for ages 12 to 15 years: this contains numerous tools to engage users in 21st-century education and blended-learning practices.(Further example of the search function on World Book Online)And best of all, it’s free with your Dublin City Public Libraries membership card.See World Book Online for more details.
Whatever your area of interest, we have an online resource for you. Today we’re going to take a look at The Great Courses Library Collection. This resource gives our library members access to an amazing world of knowledge.
Sometimes we forget that much of what we take for granted today was achieved by the struggle of people who fought against huge obstacles, whether it was in the national struggle for independence that we are commemorating in this decade of centenaries or in the striving to achieve decent working conditions, equality for all citizens and wide-ranging social justice. Despite the fact that women played a significant role in most of those struggles, too often the perception lingers that they were only the passive beneficiaries of men’s activities. One of the reasons for that misperception was the social policy that underpinned the institutionalisation of gender inequality, even after women gained access to the vote in 1918. In January 1919, the first Dáil adopted a Democratic Programme which was based on the republican and semi-socialist ideals of the pre-war years. It asserted that the nation’s sovereignty extended ‘to all men and women of the nation’ as well as to its material wealth; that the country should be ruled according to the principles of ‘Liberty, Equality and Justice for All’; that ‘every man and woman’ had a right to ‘an adequate share’ of the produce of the nation’s labour; that the ‘first duty’ of the Republic was to provide for the well-being of the children and it was a duty of the Republic to ‘safeguard the health of the people’. While that Democratic Programme was not the basis of the state that emerged from the War of Independence and the Civil War, many of the women who had been active in the struggle to establish that state still believed in the ideals that it represented.Portrait of members of the first DáilThe 1913 founding manifesto of the Irish Volunteers had conceded that ‘there will be work for the women to do’ but did not say what that work would be. Since all the founding documents and the rhetoric at inaugural meetings referred to Irish manhood it is hardly surprising that women who did not want to be in the Volunteers in a subsidiary capacity decided to create their own organisation and Cumann na mBan was set up in April 1914, albeit as an auxiliary body. They wore uniforms and participated in a number of activities that would prepare them for involvement in armed conflict, such as drilling and first aid, but not as combatants.The Irish Citizen Army was founded as a workers’ defence militia during the 1913 Lockout and women joined on an equal basis with men, although they also organised themselves into a women’s section. One of the key points of the constitution of the ICA was the demand that members must also join a trade union, if at all possible. The cause of women and the cause of labour was one of the main points of co-operation between middle and working class women in this period. The release of applications made under the Military Service Pensions Acts in recent years sheds light on the breadth of activity undertaken by women in the course of the War of Independence and subsequently in the Civil War. Nevertheless, the Military Pensions Act 1924 made it extremely difficult for women to meet the criteria for a pension in its definition of eligibility: In this Act the expression “military service” means active service in any rank, whether as an officer, non-commissioned officer, private or volunteer in any of the following forces, that is to say—“Oglaigh na hEireann” or the military body known as the “Irish Volunteers” or the military body known as the “Irish Citizen Army” or the body known as “Fianna Eireann” or the body known as the “Hibernian Rifles” or the “National Forces” or the “Defence Forces of Saorstát Eireann” or any branch of any of those forces.The language of the application forms assumed that the potential pensioner was male. When Margaret Skinnider - a member of the Irish Citizen Army who should have been eligible on several grounds, applied for a pension on foot of being shot on active duty during Easter Week 1916 she was refused on the grounds that the Act was only ‘applicable to soldiers as generally understood in the masculine sense’. She re-applied in 1937 following changes to the Acts and this time she was awarded an annual pension of £30, in respect of eight years’ pensionable service.The Military Service Pensions Act 1934 widened the criteria for inclusion:This Act applies to every person:who served in the Forces at any time during the week commencing on the 23rd day of April, 1916, or who served in the Forces continuously during either of the following periods, that is to say, the period commencing on the 1st day of April, 1920, and ending on the 31st day of March, 1921, and the period commencing on the 1st day of April, 1921, and ending on the 11th day of July, 1921, andwho served in the Forces at any time during the period commencing on the 1st day of July, 1922, and ending on the 30th day of September, 1923, andwho is not a person to whom the Act of 1924 applies.Cumann na mBan was now listed as a qualifying organisation but the types of activities covered by the Act still excluded many women. It was not until 1949 that the two acts were amended by widening the criteria to such an extent that military activity included running safe houses, intelligence work and delivering weapons, much of which had been undertaken by women.Portrait of members of Cumann na mBanDr. Mary Muldowney, Historian in Residence, Dublin City Library and Archive.Dublin City Council Historians in Residence are available to meet groups and schools, give talks, walks etc, run history book clubs and advise on historical research.
“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” Victor Hugo verbalises it best, throughout the ages, music has played an outsized role in Irish society. From the bards of old, regaling stories and legends through song and verse to our ancestors, to the modern artists of Phil Lynott, Sinead O’Connor and Hozier who tell their stories to the world.Music can be seen by many as the pastime exclusive to people who are graced with natural ability for it. Our Musician In Residence, Ríona Sally Hartman, aims to show us otherwise, striving to bring music to all. Ríona is a vocalist, composer, educator and bandleader who performs and composes in English and Irish. She releases original music under her own name including her debut album Big Starving Thing as well as performing with many projects including IMLÉ, Monster Monster and The National Concert Hall’s Education and Community Outreach Ensemble. Ríona has been documenting her song writing experience in several vlogs that break down the seemingly daunting process into easy, more manageable steps. Ríona’s songs are inspired by library users who share with her their heartfelt stories about their experiences in Dublin.Ríona is also involved with our Festival of History and will lead the Pop-up “Suffrage” choir in the foyer of Printworks, Dublin Castle (6/10/18) for a rendition of her new song. Currently a work in progress the song is being written specially for the festival in celebration of the 100th anniversary of votes for women. The song is inspired by Helena Molony seeing Maud Gonne speaking by the Custom House in Dublin one August evening in 1903; “She electrified me and filled me with some of her own spirit.” A further motivation behind Ríona’s song is to demonstrate the effect that people’s words can have and the ability we all have to inspire others to action with them. To get involved in this Pop-up “Suffrage” choir, join Ríona for rehearsals in Central Library, ILAC on Saturday 15th, 22nd & 29th September.In addition to Ríona’s instructional vlogs, through Universal Class, you can avail of many different music and instrument lessons for free with your library card to assist you on your musical journey. Personal interaction can be essential for some in the learning process. Through clinics and classes run by Ríona, the programme will feature a variety of events from ukulele taster sessions and lyric writing workshops to digital composition and production workshops.The aim of the Musician in Residence programme is ambitious. Libraries and music are not usually synonymous with one another and we aim to change that perception. We are lucky to have someone of Ríona’s talent to provide guidance for you through her vlogs and workshops. Additionally with our free online musical resources we hope to inspire you to pick up an instrument or put pen to paper on that next hit song and experience the tranquillity and peace of mind that comes with playing an instrument and song writing. VlogsIntroduction to Dublin City Public Library's Musician in Residence Musician in Residence Songwriting Vlog 1 Musician in Residence Songwriting Vlog 2 Judy Musician in Residence Songwriting Vlog 3 Judy Musician in Residence Songwriting Vlog 4 Seven Sweet Plums Interview with RTE ArenaRíona Sally Hartman interview on RTE's arena discussing her role as Musician In Residence.
'Come to Libraries, Come to Life' is a series of video interviews with users of library services in Dublin City Public Libraries, in partnership with Ballyfermot College of Further Education. The goal of the project is to show the diversity of the kinds of people that use libraries, and to demonstrate what the services mean to them.
Are you keen to get started on social media? Would you like to learn to tweet, comment on YouTube, share your photos and maintain your privacy on facebook? Are you looking for tips on how to protect your children online? Then this information session with teacher Tony Riley on 'how to use social media in a safe and fun way’ is for you.This session will guide you on use of everyday apps and help you to be in control of what information you decide to share. Listen to Tony share practical tips on safe browsing and communicating with your children about online safety and limiting use of devices.Recorded at Pearse Street Library on Saturday 13 June 2015.Listen to 'How to use social media in a safe and fun way' [play time: 01:28:53 minutes]:The programme was funded by Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources under BENEFIT IV funding.
Touch-type Read and Spell - Online Computer Course
As well as developing typing skills, TTRS is designed to benefit students of all ages who experience spelling, reading or writing difficulties. Students with dyslexia or literacy issues have found it helpful.
The Business Information Centre holds a core collection of law books and journals. The main focus of the collection is on Irish Law but it also includes a selection of books on European and International Law. Please note: This is a reference collection, items may not be borrowed.