Bettystown Library attracts over 71,000 visitors in first year
The update came in response to a question from Independent councillor Carol Lennon at the April meeting of Laytown-Bettystown. She sought a comprehensive report on membership levels and the use of facilities at the East Meath Civic Building.
The €10m facility opened in February last year. It is a four-storey, 950 sq m beachfront building providing a range of services for the East Meath community.
Facilities include adult and children’s libraries, a sensory room, study and exhibition spaces, a lifeguard station, beach management facilities, a beach wheelchair service and accessible changing rooms.
Between February 24, 2025 and February 24, 2026, the library recorded a total footfall of 71,148 visitors, along with 5,930 new membership registrations.
There has also been strong usage of the building’s facilities, with 548 meeting room bookings and events recorded between February 2025 and March 2026.
These included a wide range of library-run initiatives such as Ireland Reads, Summer Stars and Cruinniú na nÓg, as well as regular activities including book clubs, storytime sessions and parent and toddler groups.
The building has also hosted Meath County Council training and events, including courses delivered in collaboration with biodiversity, climate action and integration teams.
According to the local authority, community organisations have made extensive use of the space, including arts and crafts groups, family support networks, health support organisations and residents’ associations.
Usage of the library’s sensory room has also been significant, with 1,608 users recorded from June 2025 onwards.
The council noted that this figure does not include usage by school groups during earlier months following the building’s opening.