Bettystown Library in running for Library of the Year in first year of opening
Bettystown Library has been nominated as Library of the Year, as it celebrates its first “birthday” this week.
The library has been selected as an Island of Ireland Regional & Country Finalist in the Library of the Year category, part of the British Book Awards.
The East Meath facility is one of just three Irish libraries shortlisted in the all-island category, less than a year after opening at the East Meath Civic Centre in February 2025.
“This is a huge testament to the warm welcome we have received from our local community since the centre opened, and we look forward to marking both this momentous occasion and our first birthday in style,” Meath Library said on social media.
Since opening, the library has become a hub for “learning, connection, creativity and support.”
The four-storey, 950 sq m beachfront building provides a wide range of services for the East Meath community, including adult and children’s libraries, a sensory room, a study and exhibition space, lifeguard and beach management facilities, a beach wheelchair service, and accessible changing rooms.
In the past 12 months, the library has welcomed 5,360 new members, issued 58,605 items, hosted 587 events and room bookings, and seen 1,608 individuals use its sensory room since bookings began in June 2025.
Meath County Council thanked the library’s visitors, saying: “Your enthusiasm is what brings the library to life every single day.”
"Here’s to many more years of community, connection and growth in East Meath."