Ireland’s National Library Warns It Will Have To Cut Services

UPDATE November 4 National Library at ‘critical point’ as cutbacks hit services (via The Irish Times)

Speaking at the launch of its annual review yesterday, acting director Catherine Fahy said the library had a 42 per cent rise in visitors last year, but its funding has been cut by 44 per cent since 2008.
In 2008 it got €11.88 million from the Exchequer while last year it received €6.4 million, a reduction of 7 per cent on 2012.
She said the library needed an increase in next month’s budget of €1.25 million to maintain existing services.

—
From the Irish Times:

The board of the National Library of Ireland has warned that it will have to reduce services and will not be able to play a full part in the Decade of Commemorations because of further budget restraints.
[Clip]
The board has written to the department warning it will close its photographic archives facility in Temple Bar, which includes a genealogy service to the public during the summer, and reduce its evening opening hours in the National Library without an increase in funding.

Read the Complete Article

Filed under: Archives and Special Collections, Funding, Libraries, National Libraries, News