Dublin's last third space: How libraries tackle loneliness while embracing tech
In an era where practically every seat comes with a price tag, Dublin City Libraries stand out as one of the last remaining services that’s less interested in your wallet and more concerned with providing a sanctuary where everyone is welcome - no purchase required.
When people think of libraries, they might conjure images of dusty shelves, hushed whispers, or being scolded with late fees . But that’s far from the experience we had when Dublin Live visited the Central Library in the Ilac Centre, and learned about the vast offerings of services that it seems nobody is talking about.
Speaking with librarian Gillian Colton, it immediately became clear that Dublin’s libraries are about far more than borrowing books and tap into the full spectrum of the community’s needs. Whether it’s learning English in language groups, renting out a personal pod for a business meeting, or even challenging your inner rock star on some musical instruments, the library stands out as an all-encompassing cultural space.
With 22 branches spread across the city, Dublin City Libraries hosted hundreds of events last year and their services have only continued to expand through increased digital offers, one-on-one support for elderly or vulnerable people, and even loanable specialised autism resources for those who need it.
“We’re quite busy and on most days there’s a queue downstairs of people waiting to come in. By the afternoon there won't be a seat to be had in the place, which is fantastic,” Gillian explained.
For many, the modern world can be alienating and, as society shifts ever further toward digitalization, older people can often be left behind. Gillian explained that Dublin librarians are there to help bridge the gap between an analogue past and a more technological future by providing “one-on-one digital clinics” for this purpose.
“A lot of government and public services are online and they can be very difficult for people to negotiate. We offer one-on-one digital clinics in a lot of our libraries for people who have unmet digital literacy needs. We do it three days a week in the Central Library, you just have to book in advance,” she said.
Librarians are there to help fill knowledge gaps and can mediate access to all kinds of services that older people can benefit greatly from. “Sometimes it can just be as easy as sitting down and saying ‘you’ve got this’ or even a simple thing like upping the font size on somebody’s phone can be a gamechanger,” Gillian said.
Their focus is always on empowering people to get the most out of the services available, whether that’s gaining confidence using a smartphone or learning how to navigate Google in a world that’s increasingly utilising AI, which can be daunting and confusing for some.
There are limits to how much the library can help however, as things like online banking risk revealing people’s personal information. Although, Gillian said even in these cases, they are happy to give advance or provide a helping hand downloading an app in a way that can set them on the path toward resolving any issues in a way that doesn’t intrude on GDPR.
The common perception of a library may be a quiet space where people keep to themselves, but the truth is that they’re a hotbed for exciting presentations, workshops, and discussions. Gillian said history is among the most popular subjects for hosted events and she highlighted the great work of the Historians in Residence programme .
This programme is delivered by Dublin City Council Culture Company, in partnership with Dublin City Libraries, to place professional historians directly into the community. With six specially appointed historians across Dublin, they often host expert-led talks in local libraries that highlight untold history and unpack all the incredible heritage that makes Dublin such a fascinating city.
Gillian said the Historians in Residence events as some of their most well-attended offerings and that people are advised to book await as there are often waiting lists. This goes hand-in-hand with the Festival of History, an exciting programme of works that hosted over 250 events last year.
Taking place in various venues like Dublin Castle or the Big Weekend at the Round Room in the Mansion House, the Festival of History is just one of the ways Dublin City Libraries break out of the walls of their literal buildings and make a major impact on the cultural fabric of the city.
The library's services may extend well beyond just books these days, but an appreciation and celebration of great literature will always be a major tenet of their offerings. That’s why if any bookworms are interested in hearing directly from some of our greatest living authors, they’d be wise to sign up to their local library’s newsletter.
A prime example of this is One Dublin One Book, an annual tradition running for the past 21 years that encourages Dubliners to read one designated book each April. This year’s choice is John Banville’s Christine Falls, a title that Gillian says “has flown out the doors” adding “we can’t keep enough of them.”
With Banville himself taking part in many of the events, One Dublin One Book showcases that reading doesn’t have to be a solitary pursuit and highlights the joy that comes from an entire city discovering a story together. That’s not to mention other authors like Belinda McKeon, Martina Devlin, and Anne Enright who have come in to deliver free talks at Dublin libraries.
Outside of this annual tradition there are also plenty of book clubs who meet in various libraries around the city. Whether it’s adult fiction, sci-fi, or even short stories, there are clubs to suit all needs and interests that can connect readers with like-minded people.
It’s not just book clubs that lovers of great stories can get involved in, as the World Cinema Club at the Central Library hosts a foreign language film on the last Friday of each month at 1pm. With movies screened in the library itself, Gillian said they have capacity for 40 people and cinephiles can enjoy exciting upcoming screenings.
On April 9, the Central Library will even host the Oscar-nominated political thriller It Was Just An Accident from acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi. This comes in association with the European Parliament as part of their showcase of the Lux Awards, which highlight movies of socio-political relevance.
Plenty of libraries around Dublin host their own film clubs, such as the Europa Indie Movie Club in Ballyogan, the Blackrock Film Club, or the Family Film Club in Dun Laoghaire. Movies lovers need only check out their local library and see what upcoming screenings they can enjoy, all for free.
One area that Dublin libraries have really excelled in recent years is its autism support services , with the Central Library standing out as an inclusive and welcoming environment for neurodivergent people. With the goal of making both their digital and physical spaces autism friendly, there are even sensory supports that people can borrow.
Whether it’s ear defenders or sensory toys, these supports will offer the parents of Autistic children a chance to ‘try before you buy’ and discover what items they will benefit most from without being first confronted with a lofty price tag.
“Talking with parents in the autism group and they are saying some of these can be over €100 to buy, so it’s great to see if this suits my child or if they’re just onto the next thing. As well as that there’s books, DVDs, games, and we even have Acorn tablets with an age friendly interface,” Gillian said.
One of the Central Library’s most impressive offerings is the sensory Cubbie, which can also be found in Ballyfermot Library, Cabra Library, Coolock Library and Walkinstown Library. The sensory Cubbies are aimed at people with sensory processing disorders. The Cubbies offer a sensory management system for both children and adults with programmes lasting five to 15 minutes and consisting of colours, images and music.
From calm nature sounds to more lively options, the Cubbies offer everyone, young and old, a chance to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and take some time to themselves. “You can imagine you’re in the shopping centre and it’s noisy and stressful, this is somewhere you can come for calm and be closed off from the world,” she said.
Dublin libraries are no longer a place to simply enjoy culture, they have transformed into a space where artists can actively create it. From equipment for recording music to the ability to host a podcast, innovators of all kinds will discover the library stands out as a mecca for creativity and professional development.
“You can record music, but also play and practice, and they’re in use more and less all of the time. We keep some instruments here and people who might be travelling light can use a guitar or bass,” Gillian explained.
Whether coming in to practice the keyboard or just popping on some headphones and spinning a few vinyl records on a turntable, those who have always had a passion for music but felt constrained by financial limitations will find everything they need to get started is readily available for them at the library.
This is best exemplified by the Creative Studio, an individual soundproof booth with -45 dB of acoustic isolation which is ideal for music practice or professional recording. However, those hoping to drop and record the song of the summer should book in advance because someone was busy recording when Dublin Live came to check it out for ourselves.
One programme that shines a light on the importance of libraries almost more than any other is the ‘Skills for Life’ initiative. This nationwide programme is delivered by libraries all across Ireland and promotes everything from business and employment skills to health awareness.
Through a mix of in-person events, online resources, book collections, and one-to-one support, they are open to all adults in the community. Gillian said that each year they have one key focus and they are currently addressing financial literacy.
“We’ll do talks on how to avoid fraud online, which is something people are getting caught out on more and more,” Gillian said.” “The scams are getting more sophisticated and even when it comes to online ads people can buy something and then realise the site doesn’t really exist.”
From media literacy to AI awareness, Gillian said it’s important for people to be able to differentiate if an online service is “friend or foe.” This can be particularly useful for older and vulnerable people, but also offers real practical advice that everyone can benefit from.
The Central Library also works together with the Intreo Office to promote employment and offer workshops and business talks. Coming in April, there will be a talk guiding people who want to start their own business and give those interested a chance to sit down with an expert and ask questions.
In an increasingly isolated world, the library stands out as a true ‘third space’ where people can carve out a sense of social connection away from work and home. Gillian explained that the social offerings of the Central Library push well beyond book clubs to offer people a chance to explore all kinds of interests.
There are conversation exchanges and a large number of age-friendly events happening all of the time. “The social aspect is hugely important, especially post-Covid,” Gillian said.
“There were a lot of people who were reporting at the desk that they’re lonely and asking if there’s any events they might be interested in. There’s even day events because people can be a little bit afraid of coming out at night,” she said.
Things like chair yoga have been massively popular and are funded by the Dublin City Council Sports and Wellbeing Partnership. Gillian even described the crochet and knitting groups at the Walkinstown Library as “raucous,” stating it's a great way for people to come together.
“Yoga ticks all the boxes because it's building strength and confidence in your body as well. But the people stay and linger in the library, we offer tea and coffee as well so it’s a chance to have a biccie and a chat at the end,” she said.
“Being a librarian is a very rewarding job. Sometimes your heart is broken talking to people who might be widows or widowers and it’s their first time venturing out and they are vulnerable. People want to chat and there isn’t that pressure of spending money.”
Those who haven’t visited the library in some time may be surprised to learn that it’s possible to borrow books from any branch in the country and have them available for pick-up at your local library. This sharing system means everyone benefits from the extensive catalogue across all Irish libraries and can gain access to out-of-print books and classic novels translated into different languages.
Even those who have made the permanent jump to eReaders will find an entire digital library available on BorrowBox, which also offers audiobooks people can listen to on their smartphones for free. That’s not to mention the online press reader, which provides access to regional and national newspapers as well.
It seems not even opening hours can impact the power of Dublin libraries, as Gillian explained the ‘My Open Library’ system, which allows users access the library outside of staffed hours. While this service isn’t available in all libraries, it is an option for those in Drumcondra, Pembroke, Raheny, and Walkinstown.
Those who wish to avail of this service must have a valid library card, be over 16, and first book an induction session. Gillian said it’s been amazing to watch Leaving Cert students, some of whom hadn’t been to the library since they were young children, flock back to the service and take advantage of a quiet space to study.
Speaking with Gillian it’s clear the role of librarians and the ambition of Dublin City Libraries extends well beyond loaning books and that it stands out as an important social good that aims to give back to the community without the need to make a profit. In a world run on subscriptions and hidden fees, the library encourages people to show up and explore their interests in a welcome space, that’s something too precious to ever take for granted.
To find out more about your local library visit: https://www.dublincity.ie/dublin-city-libraries
This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme