Dublin City Libraries FAQs

If you live, work or study in Dublin City or County, or if you already have a valid public library card from any library service in the country, you may apply for a Dublin City Libraries (DCL) card.

Please note that, although you can reserve and borrow items from DCL if you have a valid public library card from any library authority in the country, you do need a valid Dublin City library card if you want to access some digital content and services, such as Freegal, Tumblebook, OED etc. available with DCL membership - please see eResources for details.

To get a DCL card you need to fill in the official application form – you can do this online or at your local library - and present the form along with photographic identification and proof of where you live. Please see the information referred to in the membership regulations for the acceptable forms of both.

If you are under the age of eighteen you must get the permission of a parent or guardian who must sign the necessary form. Parents/guardians are responsible for their children's selections and library materials and services, including use of the library and access to the Internet.

Please note the benefits of adding your email to your account.

Joining online is a quick way to become a member of your local library. When you join online, you will set your PIN and get a temporary borrower number, after which you have 1 month to call to your local library with photo ID and proof of address to collect your new library card. Please quote your temporary library card number. 

Joining online allows you to reserve one item immediately and collect it later at the branch of your choice. You can also borrow eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines and eNewspapers.

Call into your local library to validate your library membership within 1 month of joining online to continue using these services and lots more. Please bring your photo ID and proof of address along with you.

No. Membership is free, but there are nominal charges for printing and photocopying.

Your library membership lasts one year. It's important that you renew your library card as once it expires you won't be able to borrow, renew or reserve books and you won't be able to use online services.

If you have added your email to your account you will receive a notification when your library membership is due for renewal. You will also see a message when logged in to your account.

You can either renew your membership online by logging into your library account or at your local library.

When renewing, please review your personal details to ensure all information is up to date and correct.

Renew online:

• Login to your library account
• The Renew Account button is either located on your My Account homepage or at the bottom of the Personal Details page. 
• Confirm or update any personal details before clicking the Renew Account button.
• Please note: You do not need to change your PIN when renewing your library membership.

Renew at your library:

Call into your local library with your library card and photographic I.D.

If you have changed address since you last renewed your membership, please bring along proof of address. (E.g. a bill for gas, electricity, telephone, mobile phone; a bank statement, issued within the past 6 months).

You can log in to your account online with your library card number (Borrower I.D. and your PIN.

If you do not know your PIN, you can reset your PIN online or call in to any library and you will be assigned one.

You can reset your PIN online or you can present your library card at any library and set your PIN in person.

Please report the loss of your card to your local library. When you call in to your local library, please bring photo ID and you will be issued with a new card. Your borrower information, including any loans or reservations will be transferred to the new card.

Adults and children can borrow a maximum of 12 items for 3 weeks. This includes books, CDs, DVDs, computer games (max 2 games at a time). In addition you can borrow a maximum of 5 eBooks and 5 eAudiobooks for three weeks, 50 digital magazines or newspapers for three weeks, and unlimited graphic novels and comics for two weeks.

You can renew items on our library app, by online renew, by phone, or in person provided they are not requested by another borrower. If renewing by phone, please be ready to quote your library card number or the number of the item (located at the barcode).

You cannot renew an item that is reserved by someone else, or where the renewal limit (5 renewals permitted) has been reached.

Using the library catalogue or the library app you can reserve books and DVDs which are currently on loan, are available from other libraries, or are on order. Libraries receive deliveries a number of times each week so hopefully you won't be waiting very long.

There is no charge for reserving materials, but you can only have a maximum of 12 active reserves at any one time.

To reserve online from the library catalogue, you need your library card number (Borrower I.D.) along with your Personal Identification Number (PIN). If you do not know your PIN, you can reset your PIN online or call in to any library and you will be assigned one.

If you want something that isn't in the catalogue you can request it at your local branch library. We will do our best to get it for you.

If we have to order an item from the British Library Document Supply Centre or a similar mechanism, we charge €5.00 per reserve. You will be advised of this charge when placing the reserve.

Opening times vary. Check individual branches for details.

Holiday arrangements vary. Dublin City Libraries closes for a number of days over the Christmas and Easter periods; and on St Patrick's Day and bank holidays (e.g. public holiday Mondays, libraries close on the Monday and preceding Saturday).

Check the library homepage or library noticeboards for details of particular holiday arrangements. Notifications are also posted on social media.

You can renew your loans using our library app. You can also renew online by entering your library card number (Borrower I.D.) and your Personal Identification Number (PIN). ). If you do not know your PIN, you can reset your PIN online or call in to any library and you will be assigned one.

Members agree to take good care of all library materials borrowed and, with the exception of children's material, agree to reimburse Dublin City Council for the cost of any loss or damage to these materials.

To reimburse Dublin City Council for cost of a lost or damaged item:

• Report the item as lost to your local library.
• Library staff will inform you of the amount to be paid and give you a unique 14 digit reference number.
• You can pay online or over the phone quoting the reference number
• To pay online: Visit dublincity.ie/payonline.
  • Select “Other Payments”, then “Book Replacement”
  • Enter your name in "Account name".
  • Enter your unique 14 digit number in "Please enter the relevant reference number for your TFS transaction..."
• To pay over the phone: call Dublin City Council Customer Services on 01 222 2222. Ask to pay for a “Book Replacement”
• Please note we no longer offer refunds, if the book is later found.

If you do not either return an item or contact a library staff member to discuss an overdue item before you receive a third reminder, your card will be blocked from taking out or renewing any further items, including eBooks and eAudiobooks. All your library privileges will be restored when the overdue item is returned, or you have contacted your library.

The Dublin City Library and Archive is located at Pearse Street Library at number 139-144 on Pearse Street on Dublin's southside. It's a fifteen-minute walk from College Green.

Dublin City Archives contains records of the civic government of Dublin from 1171 to the late 20th century. These records include City Council and committee minutes, account books, correspondence, reports, court records, charity petitions, title deeds, maps and plans and drawings all of which document the development of Dublin over eight centuries.

Library and archive material cannot be borrowed or removed from the Reading Room. Collections can be accessed by appointment only and by filling out request forms and can be viewed in the Reading Room only.

You can get a Research Card by filling out an application form at the Reading Room. Please bring along photographic identification such as Passport; Driving Licence; Student Card; Social Welfare Identity Card; Work ID; National ID Cards (where applicable) to aid the registration process. A valid Dublin City Libraries’ card is also acceptable as ID to obtain the Research Card.

Research Cards are valid for a period of 3 years from the date of issue.

You can learn a language or choose from over 400 courses online. Many branch libraries also provide computer and language learning resources, short courses, talks and demonstrations. The Central Library has a wide range of self-learning courses and facilities. To find out more about learning opportunities in Dublin City Libraries visit the Learning and Studying page.

You can learn new digital and technical skills using our free online resources including Universal Class and Infobase Learning Cloud. Also keep an eye on our events page for free digital skills courses.

You can earn a Certificate of Course Completion (signed by your Branch Librarian and the City Librarian) after 50 hours of learning related to a specific programme, like a Linguaphone Course.

Yes. Dublin City branch libraries provide free broadband and wireless access to the Internet. To learn more visit Computers and The Internet.

Current issues of newspapers are available in a number of libraries. 

The Irish Times Digital Archive and Irish Newspaper Archives are available free of charge for Internet users at all branches of Dublin City Libraries. The Irish Times Digital Archive contains the entire The Irish Times from the first edition in 1859 to the present. The Irish Newspapers Archives features a selection of Irish newspapers from 1700s to present. 

Dublin City Library and Archive holds a wide range of newspapers in hardcopy and on microfilm ranging in date from the eighteenth century to the present day. Current and recent issues of newspapers are not available for viewing for a period of six months.

Yes. The Dublin and Irish Local Studies Collection includes new and second-hand material on Dublin City and County covering a range of books, newspapers, periodicals, photographs, maps, prints, drawings, theatre programmes, playbills, posters, ballad sheets, audiovisual materials and ephemera.

We have a range of eResources that can help your search and we have plenty of tips on researching your family tree on our library blog.

Our general collections include sources for family history and advice on tracing your family tree.

Yes. The Business Information Centre (Central Library) is a reference service run by Dublin City Libraries, specialising in company and market research information.

The Centre holds a selection of business books, databases, business magazines, newspapers and Mintel market research reports. The Centre has information on starting a business and facilitates Start Your Own Business programme in association with Local Enterprise Office.

For general enquiries please contact:

Administrative Headquarters,
Dublin City Library & Archive,
139-144 Pearse Street,
Dublin 2.

Tel.: (01) 222 4800

Email: [email protected]

Contact details for branch libraries.

There are a growing number of Book Clubs that meet in, or are affiliated to, our libraries. Most meet once a month to discuss their reading in a lively and informal atmosphere. Contact your local library for more details.

The Library in the Community service provides a home delivery service. They can be contacted at

Library Headquarters,
Cabra Library,
Navan Road,
Dublin 7.
Tel: 01-222 4770
Email: [email protected]

Toilet facilities are available for public use in Ballyfermot, Ballymun, Cabra, Charleville Mall, Coolock, Dolphin's Barn, Drumcondra, Finglas, Inchicore, Kevin Street, Pearse Street, Pembroke, Raheny, Rathmines, Terenure and Walkinstown libraries.

Public facilities are available near the libraries in the ILAC Centre and Donaghmede Shopping Centre.