County Kilkenny Carnegie Library Committee, 1923-1925

Although the public library service in the City dates from 1910, it was not until 1923, that a County service began to evolve.

The initial Kilkenny County Library Committee was formed in 1923 as  a necessary condition for the drawing down of a grant from the Irish Advisory Committee of the Carnegie Trust for the development of the a library service in Kilkenny. The aims of the Committee as outlined at the inaugural meeting on the 15^th September 1923 were as follows:

 

(1)    Organising as quickly as possible an efficient book supply in the County

(2)    Raising public awareness of the service so that after two years of financial support from the Committee, the service would be funded from local public funds. If such funding was forthcoming the Committee would present both books and equipment to the County bought from the grant. Two further conditions were also stipulated.

a.        The scheme continued to be run by a qualified Librarian recognised by the Carnegie Trust

b.       Statistics of the scheme be furnished annually to the Trust and that the Trust’s Irish Organising Librarian be allowed to inspect the scheme.

 

The venue for the first meeting was the Carnegie Library, John’s Quay. The Chairman of the County Council was elected ex-officio Chairman of the new Committee. Alderman J. Magennis and Rev. C. McNamara were elected vice- Chairmen. The County Librarian, Miss F.M. Harrison was Secretary of the Committee. The Countess of Desart was among those co-opted on to the Committee.

Both a Finance and Book Selection Sub-Committee were set up also as conditions laid down by the Irish Advisory Committee. Mr. Lennox Robinson, Secretary of the Irish Advisory Committee of the Carnegie Trust attended the first meeting.

The Carnegie Library on John’s Quay served as the central repository for the service during the two years of the Committee’s operation. The main drive of the Library Committee was to extend the service out around the County. By March 1924, 2,415 volumes had been circulated to various small repositories around the County. These were known as ‘Centres’ or later ‘Adult Centres’. These were staffed by local volunteers. The composition of the Committee and Sub-Committees was dominated by teachers both national and secondary and clergy. Three of the seven initial members of the Book-selection Committee were clergy. The perceived role of the service as being a tool for self-improvement both educationally and spiritually was thus emphasised probably reflecting public views of the time.

Local censorship of books was a constant feature. On the 19^th December 1923, it was agreed for example that the works of George Bernard Shaw be removed from circulation, On the 26^th November 1924, The County Librarian was queried by members that titles they had wanted withdrawn had not being sent out to local centres. It is important to note that such demands came from both lay and clerical members.

The other main areas that occupied the Committees were finance as funds were constantly low and the logistics of transporting books out to the Centres. . However by the time of the Committee’s last meeting on the 17^th June, 1925, it had solid achievements to its name.

 

From 1925, the administration of the County Library Service as well as its financing devolved to Kilkenny County Council.