Restore drop-in services for local studies library in Ballinamore - Reynolds-Flynn

Cllr Ita Reynolds-Flynn asked for an update on local studies in Ballinamore Library at the latest meeting of the Ballinamore municipal district. 

The local studies library is based in Ballinamore and holds an extensive collection of books, magazines, newspapers, maps, photographs, DVDs, CDs and videos relating to the history, archaeology, genealogy, literature, culture and heritage of the county.

"Before Covid, you used to be able to drop in whereas now, you have to make an appointment," she noted, "that in order to encourage visitors and tourists, the former was the better option," the Fine Gael councillor said.

She was backed Cllr Enda McGloin who supported the motion and praised the work done by artist-in-residence Sinéad Guckian. 

She was advised that Local Studies Library in Ballinamore is an important resource for those researching all aspects of the history of the county and the local studies librarian is continuously updating the collection in terms of adding new material and indexing items of local interest from a variety of publications including newspapers, serials and items of historical importance. 
With a busy workload, access to the collection, like most other library local studies collections around the country, is by prior appointment. 
Leitrim County Council’s Decade of Centenaries Programme has had a significant impact on the work of the local studies librarian who has been involved in organising events, making arrangements regarding the digitalisation of material as well as providing administrative support to the council’s Decade of Centenaries Committee. 

The response continued that, as part of her remit, Artist-in-Residence with the Programme, Sinéad Guckian, has also been working to promote the collection and this has resulted in the collection being brought to new audiences which has brought in additional queries and interest. 
Two ‘Poetry as Commemoration’ workshops have been organised to take place in the coming weeks. This is in cooperation with UCD and poet Mary Melvin Geoghegan. 
The response noted that this year’s Heritage Week events in Ballinamore Library included a presentation on ‘Old Irish Lughnasa Customs’ by Dr Marion McGarry and to mark Ballinamore Family Festival, a recording of Dr Liam McNiffe presentation ‘Garda Siochana Mutiny 1922’ was shown daily for the week. 
The local studies Librarian is also currently supporting the work of Leitrim County Council’s Diaspora Strategy Working Group and working with TY students and history teachers on the annual Young Historian Programme which is aimed at second level schools around the county.