Kilkenny welcomed Minister Heather Humphreys today to officially open the new Mayfair City Library. This facility, previously home to the Mayfair Ballroom, has been transformed into a major public facility with more than 1,800 square metres of community library space available over two floors.
The project was funded by Minister Humphrey’s Department of Rural and Community Development and Kilkenny County Council representing an investment of just under €7.2m.
The Mayfair Library reflects what a 21st Century library should be with comfortable seating and browsing areas, dedicated community exhibition space, programming and events throughout the year, public internet access, printing and scanning facilities, makerspace with 3D printing and scanning, sewing machines and more.
The facility will operate as a “My Open Library” space available for use to registered users for up to 98 hours per week making it an accessible space for study and contemplation at the times that suit people the most.
Speaking at today’s official opening and welcoming the new Mayfair Library, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Michael Doyle, said that “The Abbey Quarter is open for business and blossoming into the multi-purpose vibrant city centre space that we all envisaged it would be”, providing community facilities for everybody to access.
Mayor of Kilkenny Municipal District, Cllr. Joe Malone, speaking at the event reflected on the importance of the Carnegie Library to the City for the last 100 years and with the new Mayfair building acknowledged that “Kilkenny County Council will now have two buildings of significant heritage and cultural interest (The Carnegie Library and The Mayfair Library), refurbished and restored to meet modern standards and repurposed to serve our City for many years to come.”
The facilities at the new Mayfair library will allow for the continued expansion of library services in Kilkenny representing an investment in our communities and citizens.
New buildings and capital investment in the Kilkenny Library service is ongoing with the official opening of the Mayfair Library today, the commencement of construction of a new library building in Thomastown and the proposed development of a new facility in Callan town centre. This capital investment will increase both the quality and usage of libraries across Kilkenny.
In an era where information is abundant yet often access remains unequal, the importance of public libraries has never been greater.
Kilkenny County Council’s overall library development programme which includes the Mayfair City Library and future projects at Thomastown, Callan and the Carnegie Library demonstrates a real commitment to the principles of education, literacy, reliable information and democracy. Opening the doors on the Mayfair facility today makes available a fantastic library to every citizen of the County for generations to come.
The library will open for the first time to the public at 10am on Thursday, April 25th until 8pm.
