Waterford City Library
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Waterford City Library, also known as the Central Library, is a public library in Waterford, Ireland. It was the first to be built of Ireland's many Carnegie libraries. The philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who had previously opened libraries in Scotland and the US, himself laid the foundation stone in 1903.(20 October 1903), [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F02E3DB1730E233A25753C2A9669D946297D6CF "Waterford honors Carnegie"], New York Times
The library is built over Lady's Gate, part of the medieval city walls of the city.{{Cite web |title=Waterford |url=https://irishwalledtownsnetwork.ie/town/waterford/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Irish Walled Towns Network |language=en-GB}} The stump of the tower beside Lady's Gate on Lady Lane can be seen through glass in the floor of the library during library opening hours.{{Cite web |last=Pollock |first=Dave |title=Medieval Waterford, City Walls and Towers – an illustrated guide |url=https://irishwalledtownsnetwork.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Medieval-Waterford-City-Walls-and-Towers_Illustrated-Guide.pdf |website=irishwalledtownsnetwork.ie}}
Library Service in Waterford
File:Foundation stone of Waterford Free Library.jpg
File:Central Library at night 2024.jpg
Central Library is the main branch of Waterford City and County Libraries, part of Waterford City and County Council. Waterford Libraries has 12 public library branches spread throughout Waterford City and County, with a centrally located headquarters on the outskirts of Waterford City.
Waterford Libraries are regularly used by 16,000 members and record in excess of 500,000 visits and 500,000 loans annually. Waterford's Central Library is one of eight Europe Direct centres in Ireland, part of a network of local contact points that serve as the direct link between citizens and the EU Institutions.
Architecture
The classical-style building was constructed on a corner site using Kilkenny limestone. It is a protected structure.{{cite web | url=http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=WA®no=22501189 | title=Waterford City Carnegie Free Library | accessdate=16 August 2012 | author=National Inventory of Architectural Heritage}} In 2004 the library was reopened after having been renovated by McCullogh Mulvin Architects for its centenary.{{Cite web |last=WorkGroup |date=2024-07-14 |title=Waterford City Library |url=https://mcculloughmulvin.com/projects/waterford-city-library |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=McCullough Mulvin |language=en}}
=Exhibition=
Images of the library were featured at the Venice Biennale of Architecture of 2008.{{cite web |title=Official website of the library |url=https://waterfordlibraries.ie/ |accessdate=14 August 2012}}
The title of the exhibition in question, "Lives of Spaces", was intended to elicit multiple interpretations, "suggesting that, while spaces can contain many lives, they can equally live many lives themselves".{{cite web | url=http://www.thelivesofspaces.com/ | title=Lives of Spaces | accessdate=15 August 2012}}
See also
Carnegie went on to fund four more libraries in County Waterford:
- Ballyduff,{{Cite web |url=http://www.wlp.ie/index.php/2008-projects-projectsmenu-62/132-ballyduff-carnegie-library |title=Ballyduff |last=Waterford Leader Partnership |access-date=15 August 2012}}
- Cappoquin
- Lismore{{Cite web |last=FUSIO |title=Cappoquin Carnegie Free Library, Main Street, CAPPOQUIN, Cappoquin, WATERFORD |url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/22810025/cappoquin-carnegie-free-library-main-street-cappoquin-cappoquin-co-waterford |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Buildings of Ireland |language=en-US}}
- Tallow{{Cite web |url=http://waterfordlibraries.ie/branches/ |title=Tallow library |access-date=2019-10-26}}
References
External links
- https://waterfordlibraries.ie/branches/
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Category:Buildings and structures in Waterford (city)
Category:Carnegie libraries in Ireland
Category:Libraries in the Republic of Ireland
Category:Library buildings completed in 1904
Category:20th-century architecture in the Republic of Ireland