Taobh Tíre - a better library service for rural and isolated
communities
Taobh Tíre is an initiative of Donegal County Council that seeks to improve
library services to rural and isolated communities across
County
Donegal
.
The Library Service works in partnership with local community groups and other
agencies to provide access to books and information services in areas that are
too small to sustain a branch library. The project began in December 2002 and
since that time 14 Taobh Tíre Centres have been established across the County.
These centres are usually located in Family Resource Centres, Community
Development Projects, Community Co-operatives or other community buildings.
This partnership approach to service delivery is working very well.
Taobh Tíre and You
Each Taobh Tíre Centre has a small collection of books and one or more computer
with access to the Internet. By providing access to the Internet the Taobh Tíre
centre also provides access to the Library’s online catalogue of books, videos,
CDs, DVDs and books on tape. A member of the public can join the library
through their local Taobh Tíre centre. They can use the books on site in the
Taobh Tíre centre and they can order items through the library’s online
catalogue from any library in the County and have them delivered to their Taobh
Tíre centre. As well as access to the library catalogue the
Library Service provides a range of information databases free of
charge to library members.
Please see below a list of community organisations that provide Taobh Tíre
library services:
Aislann Chill Chartha,
Údarás
Building
Kilcar
Contact: Martina O'Donnell
Phone:074 9738376
An tSean Bheiric
Main Street
Falcarragh
Contact: Cathal Gallagher
Phone:074 9180888
Áras Sheáin Bháin
Leabharann Sheáin Bhain
Baile Nafinne
Contact: Mary Kelly
Phone: 074 9546071
Comharchumann Forbartha & Fostaíochta Arainn Mhór
(
Arranmore
Island
Development & Employment Co-op)
Árainn Mhór
Contact: Seamus Bonner
Phone: 086 8525011
Comharchumann Toraí
(
Tory
Island
Co-op)
Tory
Island
Contact: Margaret Boyle
Phone: 074 9135502
Earagail Eisc Fish Factory
Meenaneary
Carrick
(Not open to the public)
Fanavolty Community Hall
Fanavolty
Fanad
Contact: Bridget Carr
Phone:086 3184822
Ionad Lae Day Centre
Trialogh
Fanad
Contact: Patricia Shiels
Phone: 074 9159631
Letterkenny Community Development Project
2 Errigal View
Letterkenny
Contact: Margaret Toner
Phone: 074 9120633
Letterkenny Youth and Family Service
90 Glenwood Park
Letterkenny
Contact: Garry Glennon
Phone: 074 9123078
Meenaneary Post Office,
Meenaneary
Carrick
Contact: Manus O’Donnell
Phone: 074 9739009
Mevagh Family Resource Centre
Downings
Contact:
Marietta
Herrity
Phone: 074 9155055
St Johnston & Carrigans Family Resource Centre
St Johnston
Contact: Mary Crossan
Phone: 074 9148551
The Forge Family Resource Centre
Main Street
Pettigo
Contact: Martina Doyle
Phone: 071 9861924
Background to The Taobh Tíre Project
The Taobh Tíre is a national research project funded under the
Library Council of Ireland ’s Public Library Research Programme.
The project has investigated and implemented new and innovative methods of
delivering library services to rural and isolated communities in County
Donegal. Although the research was carried out in County Donegal the results
will be applicable to rural and isolated communities across Ireland. The
results will be published in a final report in early 2008.
Donegal County Library Service has adopted a partnership approach to service
delivery, in that Donegal County Library provides the books, a PC with internet
access, a weekly delivery service and a range of information services. The
partner organisation provides the space to house the Taobh Tíre centre, the
staff to look after the day to day running of the centre, they are also
responsible for the local promotion of the centre. This co-operative approach
has proved to be very successful to date. However it cannot continue to be
successful without the support of all partners.
The project began in December 2002 with desk research and consultations, which
investigated models of good and innovative practice. A profile of potential
areas was undertaken. Target areas were then selected following this process
and Taobh Tíre moved on to implementing models on a phased basis. Fourteen
models/centres have been set up in rural and isolated locations across Donegal.
These include the off shore islands of Arranmore and Tory and two urban points
in Letterkenny. The two urban points are isolated due to their distance from a
branch library and due to the socio-economic problems experienced in the
area.
Benefits of the Project
The project provides new opportunities for education, life-long learning,
leisure and personal development in areas that are unable to sustain a full
time branch library. Without exception, there is great enthusiasm for the
project, which shows the widespread recognition of the need to increase the
social, educational and cultural opportunities of every person in the
county. It also acknowledges the importance of the library service as a
true gateway to resources for children and young people, for learning and
information, and for culture and the imagination. This was confirmed by the
awarding of a special category award for Community Services Outreach to the
Taobh Tíre Project by Co-operation Ireland at their Pride of Place Awards in
County Carlow in October 2006.
Due to the success of the Taobh Tíre Donegal County Council is hoping to
mainstream the project. A lot of work will take place on the consolidation of
the existing Taobh Tíre centres before the service will be expanded to other
communities.
Further Information
The service provided by Taobh Tíre is an important element in ensuring the
sustainability of small communities and of the delivery of equitable services
across the wider population. For further information on the research and
implementation of Taobh Tíre, please see reports below:
-
An Chomhairle Leabharlanna/The Library Council researched models of good
practice nationally and internationally. To see this review,
click here.
-
The Research & Policy Section of Donegal County Council profiled target
areas, assessed the potential for partnership and identified needs. For an
executive summary (pdf) of this report, click here.
-
For a report on case studies with Donegal Youth Council, The Western Education
and Library Board, Ardara Parish Council and Aislann Chill Chartha,
click here.
-
The interim report of the project was published in early 2005. This gave
details of achievements of phase I and recommendations for phase II. To see
this report, click here.
There are many significant aspects
to the project. See text of Updates (in pdf format) for further details.
-
-
July 2003 /
Iuil 2003
-
November 2003
/ Samhain 2003
-
March 2004
/ Márta 2004
-
July 2004
/ Iúil 2004
-
November 2004
/ Samhain 2004
-
March 2005
/ Marta 2005
-
July 2005
/ Iuil 2005
-
Taobh
Tire Interim Project Report - May 2005 (Approx. 4 MB)
-
November 2005
/ Samhain 2005
-
March 2006
/ Marta 2006
-
April 2006 /
Aibrean 2006
-
August 2006 /
Lunasa 2006
For further
information on Taobh Tíre contact:
Donna Quinn
Taobh Tíre Co-ordinator
074 9168743
dquinn@donegalcoco.ie
|