Leabharlann ICC  - The David Whiteley Library

Tobar na Leabhar Gaelach i Londain ( A well of Irish language books in London)

Stair na Leabharlanna

Cruthaíodh leabharlann an ICC, ó bhailiúchán leabhair a d’fhág an t Uasal, David Whiteley don ionad tar éis a bhás. Meascán do leabhar faoi chultúir, stair agus cultúir na hÉireann go háirithe a bhí sna bailiúcháin chomh maith le leabhair dofhaighte. Le blianta anuas, d’oibrigh an t-ionad le cabhair ó saorálaithe chun catalóg a chur le chéile agus chun na leabhar a chur ar fáil agus ar iasacht ar son pobail Londain. Dúnadh an leabharlann i 2015 mar bhí sé soiléir nach raibh an leabharlann ag feidhmiú mar ba chóir agus go raibh straitéis nua á lorg chun freastal níos fearr a chur ar fail d'úsáideoirí na leabharlanna.

An Leabharlann Nua

Tar éis don ICC dul i gcomhairle faoi dhea-chleachtas riaracháin litríochta agus leamh, socraíodh an leabharlann a athbhunú mar chomhaltas chun riachtanais na h-iasachtaí a éascú laistigh den ionad. Tá an leabharlann nua bunaithe ar an bunbailiúchán agus mar a bhí ón thuas, beidh cultúir na hÉireann mar lár ionad na leabharlanna . Chomh maith leis sinn tá córas bainisteoireachta leabharlanna (Heritage Cirqa ) ceannaithe againn le cabhair ó dheontas oidhreachta. Ligfeadh an córas nua dúinn catalóg an leabharlann a chur ar fáil ar líne. Ní bheidh sé ar ár gcumas an bailiúchán iomlán a thaispeáint ar na seilfeanna, ach buíochas don chóras nua - beidh baill don leabharlann ábalta dul isteach ar an mbailiúchán agus sonraí faoi leith a fheiceáil agus a chuardach ar líne.

Tá cúig shaghas de bhallraíocht ar fáil:

1) Ballraíocht iomlán £50 - Lánchead teacht ar gach téacs agus leabhair a fháil ar iasacht.

2) Ballraíocht mac léinn £30 - Cead teacht ar gach téacs agus cead leabhair a fháil ar iasacht do mhac léinn le haitheantas fíoraithe.

3) Ballraíocht léitheoireachta £25 - Cead teacht ar gach téacs sa leabharlann agus iad a léamh san ionad ach gan aon rogha iasachta.

4) Ballraíocht Phobal - do dhaoine ar ioncam íseal nó le cruthúnas tacaíochta - Cead teacht ar an gcuid is mó de na téacsanna agus tréimhse iasachta níos giorra - chun níos mó eolas agus treoir a fháil labhair le ball den fhoireann na leabharlanna.

5) Ballraíocht tacaíochta £100 - Teacht ar gach téacs agus iasachtaí, le síntiús chun an córas leabharlanna a chothabháil agus cuireadh chuig imeachtaí liteartha agus ceardlanna ar leith sa lárionad.

*Téacs a aistríodh ón mBéarla le Pádraig O Loingsigh

Tuilleadh eolais – [email protected]

Text translated from English by Pádraig O Loingsigh - for more information:

[email protected]

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for the library please email [email protected]

AIMS and OBJECTIVES

• The purpose of the new David Whiteley Library is to serve as a source of knowledge and inspiration to a wide diversity of the Irish community and diaspora of London, and beyond, who may wish to join the Library and access its resources.
• The collection should aspire to be wide ranging, and so include current as well as classic texts on all Irish historical periods, key literary genres, and other areas of Irish cultural, linguistic and political interest.
• These texts should include academic as well as more accessible litera-ture, in order to meet the needs of the Library's potential membership, and researchers.
• The collection should also include reading matter, and other non book resources, which can reflect the work of the Centre's many cultural activities.
• The Library should not try to emulate the contents of a local public library, by impracticably including material on all subject areas, since the local area is already well-served by long-standing Borough libraries.
• Rather, our models should be other renowned and well-established cultural European centres in London, such as the Goethe, or the Italian Institute, albeit on a smaller scale, and with the emphasis here on specifically Irish-related matters.
• Membership of the Library will be on a subscription basis, with an annual fee paid to permit members access to the collection on set days of the week, and for them to be able to borrow an agreed number of books for a set period of time.
• All membership subscriptions will be used to cover running costs and so maintain the Centre's library. Funds will be used to repair, cover and replace items over time, and to enable the collection to expand so as to meet the changing needs of the users.
• Part of the collection because of its value, rarity and nature will not be avallable for lending, but access will be given to members to consult such reference texts in the Centre at agreed times, by arrangement.