RCB Library Notes04 Nov 21

Newly published books recently acquisitioned by the RCB Library

March 2020 saw the beginning of a disruption to services that had never before been experienced by the Library. Although Library staff could not serve its members – and the general public who use its services – in the traditional manner, work continued behind the scenes with regards to many projects over the past year–and–a–half. These included digitisation, cataloguing, archiving, and the receiving of registers and general parish material. Another important task that continued while the building was closed to the public was carefully selecting items that would be of interest to members in terms of the printed book collection. Library staff were aware that its members would not be able to borrow these items until restrictions were eased, but felt that it was essential that this process was maintained during lockdown.

The parish history section of the Library is a valued and eclectic part of the Library’s collection, and the Library continued to accession parish histories that will be of use to researchers, historians, and the general public. Of particular interest was the publication this year of Desmond Gillmor’s Drumlease: Two Centuries of a Church of Ireland Parish in County Leitrim. Added to this was the accession of several local histories on areas such as Ballymahon, Shrule, and Kilchreest.

In addition, the Library accessioned many new current affairs, history and biography titles. Of particular interest to the Library’s members are memoirs by Mary McAleese (Here’s The Story, published by Penguin Ireland) and Barack Obama’s insightful A Promised Land about his journey from community organizer to President of the United States.

The Library has been innovative by developing a new way of allowing members to borrow books through the Click–and–Collect service, and staff are now welcoming members to visit the Library to ‘browse and borrow’ on Thursdays during normal opening hours.

To read more about the newest additions to the Library’s collection, please visit www.ireland.anglican.org/library/archive

Information on becoming a member of the Library, for €5 per annum or €40 for a life membership, is available here.