The Library will be hosting an online database training session exploring the Colonial State Papers on Thursday 19th January, from 10-11am. Links have been sent out the registered academics and PhD students in advance, but undergraduates are welcome to contact their Subject Librarian if interested.
Continue reading “Exploring the Library’s Databases – Colonial State Papers”
The monumental task of decanting the Library collections commenced last Spring as part of the Old Library Redevelopment Project.
All of the Library’s Research Collections housed in the Old Library are being transferred to special storage. This means removing 350,000 Early Printed books and a total of 700,000 collection items as part of the Library collections.
A series of timelapses are capturing the painstaking work of the Library team involved in the project. So far almost 3.5 km of books stacked side by side have been removed or 32% of the overall project. There is a target of over 10.5 km in the overall project. That means just 7 km to go.
Readers will continue to have access to all material in an Interim Research Collections Study Centre during the lifetime of the building conservation project.
Last term the Library was pleased to announce the purchase of 14 new electronic resources supporting multiple disciplines across the Arts and Humanities. We thought we would take a closer look at some of the collections, starting with the Gale Primary Sources, British Library Newspapers, Part II: 1800–1900 and Part III: 1741–1950, which provides 23 publications (nearly 1.4 million pages) from across the United Kingdom and Ireland to reflect the social, political, and cultural events of the times. Link – A-Z Databases: british newspapers
How does this archive help researchers?
Continue reading “Exploring The Library’s Databases – Research Treasure”
At the invitation of Brendan Rogers, the Irish Ambassador to the Netherlands, colleagues from the Library of Trinity College Dublin were recently in The Hague to speak about an important ongoing collaboration with the KB National Library of the Netherlands.
The Unlocking the Fagel Collection project began in late 2020, to document and make more widely accessible this 18th-century Dutch collection which was acquired for Trinity College in 1802. With funding now secured to continue the work on the Fagel Collection until 2025, this was an occasion to meet confirmed partners and explore public interest for the possibilities of the next phase.
The next major activity planned is an academic symposium on June 22-23, 2023. This will allow stock-taking of the current state of knowledge regarding the Fagel library, the collectors who contributed to it, and the wider context in which it was and is used. Proposals for papers are welcomed on a wide range of topics, and to harness the fresh enthusiasm resulting from the recent visit, the deadline for submissions has been extended to January 20, 2023.
To learn more about the Fagel Collection and project, see the Library’s videos on The Fagels and Unlocking the Fagel Collection.
Are you ready for your exams? If you’re feeling stressed or underprepared the Library is here to help, and we have dedicated a webpage with helpful links and tips.
Exam Strategies | Trinity College Dublin (talis.com)
Check out recommended reading for study skills to get the most out of your revision time.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, we have links to free online resources that give advice on coping with exams. Eg, Coping with exam stress. And our Student Counselling Services have tips too. https://www.tcd.ie/Student_Counselling/outreach/
Practice makes perfect with our collection of past papers, practice answering exam questions that have come up in previous years. To view online resources expand the record by clicking on the title, click where it says “AVAILABLE ONLINE” or “1 COPY AVAILABLE” in the case of a book for example.
Student Learning – Exam Papers – Student Learning Development – Trinity College Dublin (tcd.ie)
We are always happy to take questions at the Library Counter or get in touch with your Subject Librarian.
Good luck from your Library!
The Berkeley, Lecky, Hamilton, and John Stearne Medical Library, (St. James’s) entrances have all been upgraded with new access control gates. We thank you for your patience and cooperation while the refurbishment works were being carried out, and for adjusting to the changes.
The aim of the project is to provide seamless access to Library spaces for staff and students, while also improving the security of Library collections and enhancing the look and feel of Library entrances.
Make sure you have your ID card on you at all times, or phone for those using that service. Entering and exiting will require identification.
Continue reading “Access Gate Success – All Areas Complete”
The Berkeley Library entrance has reopened today at 9am (Friday 28th October 2022). The Berkeley foyer toilets have reopened and are operating as normal.
The Lecky Library entrance is now closed – please use the Berkeley entrance.
Make sure you have your ID card on you at all times, or phone for those using that service. Entering and exiting will require identification.
From 9am on Friday 28th October 2022, the access control gates can be opened by TCD staff and students. You should simply hold your ID card to the card reader at the side of the pedestal for both entrance and exit. The barcode reader (red light) at the top of the pedestal will not read the physical ID card.
Thank you for your patience while these important upgrade works are being carried out and apologies for any inconveniences.
One of the largest decants of a heritage building in Ireland − 350,000 early printed books and 700,000 collection items
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan visited the Old Library at Trinity College Dublin yesterday [October 19th] to see at close quarters the monumental task of decanting the Library collections as part of the Old Library Redevelopment Project.
In order for the landmark conservation project to start, all of the Library’s Research Collections housed in the Old Library must be transferred to special storage. This means removing 350,000 Early Printed books and a total of 700,000 items as part of the Library collections. Readers will continue to have access to all material in an Interim Research Collections Study Centre during the lifetime of the building conservation project. It is one of the largest decant processes to take place of a heritage building in Ireland.
Minister for Heritage, Malcolm Noonan was joined by Trinity Provost, Dr Linda Doyle, Bursar, Professor Eleanor Denny, Librarian & College Archivist, Helen Shenton during the visit and met with the Library team involved in the historic project.
As part of the decant process, each book is carefully cleaned with a specialised vacuum, measured, electronically tagged and linked to an online catalogue record, before being safely relocated to a climate-controlled storage facility.
Minister Noonan said on the occasion of the visit: “I am delighted to be here today, witnessing this historic once in a lifetime decant as it unfolds. We have a shared responsibility towards our cultural heritage and Trinity College Dublin through this conservation project is ensuring this 18th century Old Library building and its collections are conserved for the next century. Significant care and consideration goes into moving a collection of this scale and the dedication of the Library team is impressive.”
Provost, Dr Linda Doyle said: “The Old Library Redevelopment Project is a transformative undertaking which will preserve this priceless cultural institution for the next generation and beyond. The decant, led by the Library team, is a massive operation, with more than 50 Library staff assisted by over 25 project assistants. It marks a key stage in this transformative redevelopment project.”
Minister Noonan met with Library staff who designed the project and are now carrying it out, helped by project assistants. The project assistants busily working away in the Long Room are early career archivists, conservators and museum professionals from across the country and internationally.
The first book to be decanted was a 19th century publication, ‘Reeves’ History of the English law: from the time of the Romans to the end of the reign of Elizabeth’ and many more have followed.
“This is a particularly complex and sensitive decant. There are so many precious books, manuscripts and objects held in the vast collections, which extend over many centuries. Imagine a house move at scale – thousands of times bigger and more complicated in order to move 700,000 items,” explained the Librarian and College Archivist, Helen Shenton.
Trinity Bursar, Professor Eleanor Denny is Chair of the Old Library Redevelopment Project and is leading the project for the University along with all other construction projects on campus:
“The decant process is critical for the next stage of the restoration project. Once complete, the Old Library will close at the end of Autumn 2023 and the urgent structural and environmental upgrades can then take place over a three-year period. It is a once in a lifetime project, and it will future-proof both the 18th century building and its collections for the 22nd century and beyond.” said Professor Denny.
For more information on the Old Library Redevelopment Project see: https://www.tcd.ie/old-library-campaign/
The Library is delighted to announce the purchase of 14 new electronic resources supporting multiple disciplines across the Arts and Humanities.
With access to millions of primary source collections this is a fantastic opportunity to expand your research and knowledge on a wide breadth of subjects, ranging from 18th-20th Irish history to global cultural and encyclopedic knowledge spanning the millennia.
After 3 long years, the Library of Trinity College Dublin gathered last night in the Long Room of the Old Library and held a very special event in honour of ten members of staff who retired in 2020, 2021 and four more due to retire this week, September 2022.
Sean Breen, Readers’ Services (1974-2021), Carmel Carr, Librarian’s Office (1980-2022), Loretto Curley, Library Guard (2005-2020), Paul Doyle, Readers’ Services (1972-2020), Helen Flynn, Cataloguing (1982-2021), Peter Guilding, Cataloguing (1980-2021), Assumpta Guilfoyle, Cataloguing (1974-2021), Una Lynch, Readers’ Services (1976-2022), Paul Mulligan, Map Library (2007-2022) and Paula Norris, Readers’ Services (1977-2022).
These ten people in particular, have given an enormous amount over the decades – who combined, served a staggering 387.5 years and of themselves – incalculable dedication.
Continue reading “The Library of Trinity College Dublin – Retiree special 2020-2022”
