Author: laois library

  • Portlaoise New Library, Main Street , Portlaoise

    Laois County Council are delighted to officially open new County Library on  Main Street, Portlaoise .The new library will offer an  enhanced and expanded library service for all of the county and its citizens .The new  library is not only a place to borrow books, study or perform a task,  Portlaoise Library will also be a place to relax and recharge in the heart of the town.  The library will be a welcoming  free space,  accessible

    and the main street location will make it within easy reach for all the community. The library will be a child friendly space inviting children, schools and families making the library a social space for parents as well as children. For many in the community, Portlaoise Library will be a sanctuary providing   a clean, warm and calm environment.

    The County  Library will facilitate the provision of educational and cultural information, provide free  digital access  and free  community public space  for the community and our visitors. Occupying a central location on the Main Street the library will form a significant element of The Cultural Quarter development in the historic core of Portlaoise showcasing and promoting   the Fort Protector and Fitzmaurice Place

     

    For details on opening hours and contact details  check here  

  • Criunniú na nÓg 2023

    Cruinniú na nÓg Laois takes place on Saturday the 10th of June 2023 and  is a day of creativity for children and young people under the age of 18 which celebrates and encourages participation in culture and creativity through ‘doing’, ‘making’, and ‘creating’ from visual and performing arts to workshops and adventures in heritage, libraries, culture, science and technology, music and dance  . Events are free, local and activity-based.

    Cruinniú na nÓg Laois 2023: Full Programme here

     

  • Mindfulness and Poetry

    Laois Libraries are delighted to host an evening of mindfulness and poetry with Orlaith O’Sullivan on Wednesday 23rd March at 7 p.m. over Zoom. Join us for an evening of mindfulness practice devoted to beautiful silence and words. Email mountmellicklibrary@laoiscoco.ie to book your space.

  • Work Matters at your Library

    Work Matters is a national initiative which aims to support small businesses and employment online and at your local library.  The library is a place to explore, learn and connect.

    Work Matters is a partnership between Libraries Ireland, Intreo, Citizens Information, Employment Training Boards and Local Enterprise Offices 

    If you are a looking for a job, choosing a career or thinking of starting or expanding a business, your local library can help.

  • Laois Libraries(selected) offering Call and Collect Services as part of Phase 2

    Laois County  Library Service will begin to  offer  more  library services to the public as outlined in Phase 2 of the Government’s Roadmap for re-opening society and  business from week commencing the 8th of June 2020 .

     

    The first phase of these services will be a “Contact and Collect” service in some of the major branch Libraries

     

    In all situations, the health and safety of the public and staff will be paramount. Social distancing will be observed where library users interact with services, and all health and safety protocols will be observed.

     

    Library customers  must  contact branch libraries  directly in advance  to place an order of books/DVDs/CDs etc that are currently available in Laois Library branches. A time for collection will be given, and one member of a household can enter the lobby of the library to pick up the order. Members of the public are not permitted to enter the main library area at this time and are asked to use hand sanitiser and adhere to social distancing guidelines when collecting items. Library customers can also return their  outstanding loans  to the library.

     

    The following libraries will offer a  Contact And Collect service and  a specific collection time will be given to you during the  opening times below

    Portlaoise Library: Monday-Friday, 9.30 am-1pm & 2pm-4.30pm

    Portarlington Library: Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays 9.30am – 1.00pm &2.00pm-4.30pm

    Mountmellick  Library-Tuesdays and Fridays  9.30-1pm& 2pm-4.30pm

    Abbeyleix Library –Tuesdays and Fridays  9.30-1pm & 2pm-4.30pm

     

     

    Please contact the libraries directly  as below

    Portlaoise  phone 057 8622333 email laoislibrary@laoiscoco.ie

    Portarlington -057 8643751 email library@laoiscoco.ie

    Abbeyleix- 057 8730020 library@laoiscoco.ie

    Mountmellick -057 8644572 library@laoiscoco.ie

     

    Durrow, Mountrath, Rathdowney, Stradbally and Ballylinan Libraries will not be offering this service at this Phase and will remain closed to the public.  Our customers from these branches(closed)  can avail of the Call and Collect services in Portlaoise, Portarlington, Abbeyleix and Mountmellick libraries in Laois

  • Competition-Create your own Bookmark for Laois County Library Services

    Laois County Library Service are running a  Create your own “Comic Strip” book mark competition.

    There are 2 age categories-Closing date 15th  of May 2020.

     

    Winners will have their designs printed as bookmarks for use in all Laois Libraries .

    Forms and templates are available to download here  

  • Free Online Resources and Ebooks now available at Laois County Library Service

    Although Laois Libraries are closed, we still have plenty of online resources to help you through this time.

    We have both adult and children’s  audio books, e-books and e-magazines.

    If you are not a library member you can now join online and access these ebooks straight  away here at : https://www.librariesireland.ie/join

    Our new Press Reader service gives you free access to hundreds of newspapers so you can keep up to date with events. We also have free online language, hobby and business courses.

     

    All online services and guides  can be found here:

    https://laois.ie/departments/libraries/online-resources/

     

    Library staff continue to work behind closed doors so if you are having difficulty accessing any of these services or need to update your pin number please feel free to contact us :

    https://laois.ie/departments/libraries/branch-libraries/

     

  • Library Closures due to COVID 19

    Laois  County Library Service has closed all public libraries in Laois  as a precautionary measure following public health advice relating to the Covid-19 outbreak and cancelled all upcoming library events. Libraries will be closed from Friday 13th of March to Sunday 29th, inclusive.

    Updates will be posted on the library website https://laois.ie/departments/libraries/ and on library social media channels.
    https://www.facebook.com/LaoisLibraries/

    https://www.twitter.com/LaoisLibrary 

     

     

    Patrons can still access the full range of online services – eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines,  on the library website:https://laois.ie/departments/libraries/online-resources/

    Laois  County Library Service  apologise  for any inconvenience caused and hope to resume normal service as soon as possible.

    Library staff  are working behind closed doors if you need information on your PIN number for the  online services  . Please contact  your local library; https://laois.ie/departments/libraries/branch-libraries/  or email library@laoiscoco.ie for more information.

  • Fighting Words Laois -Volunteers Needed!

    Laois County Library Service in association with Local Creative Youth
    Partnership / LOETB and supported by Creative Ireland Laois is
    establishing a FIGHTING WORDs programme in Laois. The aim is to help
    children, young people, and adults to discover and harness the power
    of their imaginations and creative writing skills.  For more information click here, 

  • Laois County Library Services Reader-in-Residence

    Laois County Library Service with the support of Creative Ireland seeks to award a contract for services for a Reader- in -Residence .  Reading  and literacy is at the heart of the public library service in Laois  and the new public library strategy,” Our Public Libraries 2022 – Inspiring, Connecting and Empowering Communities”.  Laois County Library Services are committed to developing the role of the library as a centre for culture and learning , with programmes and projects that meet individual and community needs .

    See below for more details

    Laois County Council Library Reader in residence 2019 (3)

  • Healthy Ireland at Your Local Library

    Healthy Ireland at Your Local Library

    Lots of great Healthy Ireland events coming up in libraries all around the county. For more information on the Healthy Ireland initiative visit http://www.librariesireland.ie/healthy-ireland/