Blogs

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. 

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.