Preasráiteas: Aird dírithe ar ról ríthábhachtach na leabharlann poiblí san Eoraip le linn comhdhála de chuid Uachtaránacht an AE
Press Release
Thursday, 29 October 2026
EU Presidency conference highlights the vital role of public libraries in Europe
· Irish and European library leaders meet at Trinity College Dublin to launch the “Strengthening Europe Through Public Libraries” report
· Public libraries’ role in education, social inclusion, culture, digital literacy and community cohesion across Europe was highlighted
· Conference hears how a strategy-led approach, partnerships and targeted investment are transforming public libraries in Ireland
The vital role played by public libraries in supporting learning, culture, inclusion and community life, was highlighted as Irish and European library representatives gathered at Trinity College, Dublin.
The conference also hosted the launch of a report titled “Strengthening Europe Through Public Libraries” which was compiled over the past two years be a Europe-wide libraries expert group, co-chaired by Ireland.
With an estimated 67,000 public libraries serving 757 million visitors, public libraries represent a significant asset for Europe and Europeans in addressing social, cultural and educational challenges. These include access to trustworthy information, lifelong learning, culture, digital inclusion, and providing welcoming spaces and connections between people and services. The report provides a roadmap to shape cooperation across Europe to stimulate library development and to inform public library developments.
The conference was informed about Ireland’s strategy-led approach, multi-agency and local government partnerships and targeted investment to provide multi-functional welcoming spaces at the heart of communities in urban and rural areas. This approach reflects the vision for public libraries as set out in the report.
Opening the conference, Minister Buttimer, Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities said:
“Public libraries are among the most accessible and trusted public services in our communities. They offer far more than books: they are places to learn, connect with others, access reliable information and take part in community life. By working with local authorities, community organisations and partners across Europe, we can help libraries continue to respond to the needs of people and places”.
In a video message to the conference, Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, said:
“Public libraries are essential public infrastructure for a democratic, open and diverse Europe. In an age of algorithms and screens, libraries offer something increasingly precious: safe, open spaces where people of all ages can learn, connect and belong. Libraries give us a place to experience what it is to be European. As we strengthen protections for young people online, we must also invest in alternatives physical spaces like these, where social cohesion, democracy and the wellbeing of communities are practised every day.”
Dr Stuart Hamilton, Head of Libraries Development, Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), and Expert Group Co-Chair, added:
“This report highlights the significant contribution public libraries make to addressing key challenges facing communities across Europe, including literacy and lifelong learning, digital inclusion, social cohesion and democratic participation. The findings closely align with the vision set out in The Library is the Place, Ireland’s national public library strategy, which positions libraries at the heart of communities and as key partners in addressing social, economic and environmental challenges. The report underlines the case for recognising libraries as essential community infrastructure and for sustained investment in library services, staff, buildings and digital infrastructure, so that libraries can continue to deliver meaningful benefits for people and communities across Europe”.
The conference is also considering how public libraries can be recognised and supported as essential services and strategic partners in delivering European, national and local priorities.
Preasráiteas
Déardaoin, 29 Deireadh Fómhair 2026
Aird dírithe ar ról ríthábhachtach na leabharlann poiblí san Eoraip le linn comhdhála de chuid Uachtaránacht an AE
- Cruinniú idir cheannairí leabharlainne Éireannacha agus Eorpacha chun tuarascáil “An Eoraip a Neartú trí Leabharlanna Poiblí” a sheoladh
- Béim leagtha ar ról na leabharlann poiblí san oideachas, ionchuimsiú sóisialta, cultúr, litearthacht dhigiteach agus aontacht phobail ar fud na hEorpa
- Plé sa chomhdháil faoi conas atá cur chuige straitéiseach, comhpháirtíochtaí agus infheistíocht spriocdhírithe ag athrú leabharlanna poiblí ó bhonn in Éirinn
Díríodh aird ar ról ríthábhachtach na leabharlann poiblí ó thaobh tacaíocht don fhoghlaim, cultúr, ionchuimsiú agus saol pobail, agus ionadaithe leabharlainne Éireannacha agus Eorpacha ag teacht le chéile i gColáiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath.
Seoladh tuarascáil le linn na comhdhála freisin, dar teideal “An Eoraip a Neartú trí Leabharlanna Poiblí”, arna chur le chéile le dhá bhliain anuas ag grúpa saineolaithe ó fud fad na hEorpa, faoi chomhchathaoirleacht na hÉireann.
Le timpeall 67,000 leabharlann phoiblí ag freastal ar 757 milliún cuairteoir in aghaidh na bliana, is acmhainn shuntasach iad leabharlanna poiblí don Eoraip agus d’Eorpaigh chun dul i ngleic le dúshláin shóisialta, chultúrtha agus oideachasúla. Áirítear ar na dúshláin seo rochtain ar fhaisnéis iontaofa, foghlaim fad saoil, cultúr, ionchuimsiú digiteach, agus spásanna fáilteacha agus ceangail idir dhaoine agus seirbhísí a chur ar fáil. Tá treochlár sa tuarascáil chun comhoibriú ar fud na hEorpa a mhúnlú, le forbairt leabharlann a stiúradh agus eolas a dhéanamh d’fhorbairtí i réimse na leabharlann poiblí.
Tugadh léargas don chomhdháil ar chur chuige straitéiseach, comhpháirtíochtaí ilghníomhaireachta agus rialtais áitiúil, agus infheistíocht spriocdhírithe in Éirinn chun spásanna fáilteacha ilfheidhme a chur ar fáil i gcroílár pobal i gceantair uirbeacha agus thuaithe. Is léiriú é an cur chuige seo ar an fhís i gcomhair leabharlanna poiblí mar atá leagtha amach sa tuarascáil.
Agus é ag oscailt na comhdhála, dúirt an tAire Buttimer, an tAire Stáit le freagracht as Forbairt Pobail agus Carthanachtaí:
“Tá leabharlanna poiblí i measc na seirbhísí is inrochtana iontaofa inár bpobail. Is mó ar fad atá ar fáil iontu ná leabhair: is áiteanna foghlama iad, inar féidir ceangal le daoine eile, rochtain a fháil ar fhaisnéis iontaofa agus páirt a ghlacadh i saol an phobail. Trí chomhoibriú le húdaráis áitiúla, eagraíochtaí pobail agus comhpháirtithe ar fud na hEorpa, is féidir linn cabhrú le leabharlanna agus iad ag freastal ar riachtanais daoine agus áiteanna”.
I bhfísteachtaireacht chun na comhdhála, dúirt Glenn Micallef, an Coimisinéir Eorpach um Chothroime Idirghlúine, um an Óige agus um Chultúr agus Spórt:
“Bonneagar poiblí bunriachtanach iad leabharlanna poiblí i gcomhair Eoraip atá daonlathach oscailte éagsúil. I ré na n-algartam agus na scáileán, tá leabharlanna ag éirí níos luachmhaire mar spásanna sábháilte oscailte inar féidir le daoine de gach aois foghlaim, ceangal le chéile agus a bheith ar a suaimhneas. I leabharlanna braitheann muid luachanna na hEorpa. Agus muid ag neartú na cosaintí do dhaoine óga ar líne, ní mór dúinn infheistiú i spásanna fisiciúla malartacha eile cosúil leo seo, ina gcleachtar aontacht shóisialta, daonlathas agus dea-bhail pobal gach lá.”
Dúirt an Dr Stuart Hamilton, Ceannasaí Forbairt Leabharlann sa Ghníomhaireacht Bainistíochta Rialtais Áitiúil agus Comh-Chathaoirleach an Ghrúpa Saineolaithe, an méid seo freisin:
“Léirítear sa tuarascáil seo an méid suntasach a dhéanann leabharlanna poiblí le comhrac in éadan na bpríomhdhúshlán atá roimh phobail ar fud na hEorpa, amhail litearthacht agus foghlaim fad saoil, ionchuimsiú digiteach, aontacht shóisialta agus rannpháirtíocht dhaonlathach. Tagann na torthaí go dlúth leis an bhfís arna leagan amach in Is í an Leabharlann an Áit, straitéis náisiúnta na hÉireann i leith na leabharlann poiblí, ina gcuirtear leabharlanna ag croílár pobal agus ina ndéantar príomh-chomhpháirtithe díobh sa chomhrac in éadan dúshláin shóisialta, eacnamaíocha agus chomhshaoil. Déantar an argóint sa tuarascáil gur cheart leabharlanna a aithint mar bhonneagar pobal bunriachtanach agus gur cheart infheistíocht leanúnach a dhéanamh i seirbhísí, foirne, foirgnimh agus bonneagar digiteach na leabharlann, ionas gur féidir le leabharlanna leanúint lena mbuntáistí fiúntacha a chur ar fáil do dhaoine agus pobail ar fud na hEorpa.”
Tá plé á dhéanamh sa chomhdháil freisin faoi conas ar féidir leabharlanna poiblí a aithint agus conas tacú leo mar sheirbhísí poiblí bunriachtanacha agus comhpháirtithe straitéiseacha ó thaobh tosaíochtaí Eorpacha, náisiúnta agus áitiúla a thabhairt i gcrích.