More than books: how libraries bring communities together

Local libraries are one of the most popular local government services, and if you pop into your local library it’s easy to see why. It’s not just the books. They provide welcoming spaces, with events and activities to suit every taste and age group.  Library membership opens the door to even more, including free access to eBooks, audiobooks, online courses, newspapers and magazines, as well as learning and digital skills supports.

Libraries work closely with their communities to understand local interests and needs, shaping services, activities and programmes that reflect the people they serve. Here’s how four libraries around the country are bringing that to life, from helping new parents build friendships and communities prepare for emergencies, to using reading and social activities to bring people together.

New connections for parents and babies in Wicklow

At Wicklow’s Ballywaltrim Library, some Ireland’s very youngest library users are helping their parents make new friends. The library runs free Tummy Time sessions for parents, carers and babies on Monday and Tuesday mornings in their Community Room.  

Staff set up a white mat with cushions and play gentle music. A device called a Tovertafel projects interactive images onto the mat, including trains, butterflies and bouncing balls. The images encourage babies to move and spend time on their tummies, helping to develop strength and coordination for crawling. 

"It's an intergenerational, safe environment where adults can bring babies to have a very positive first experience of the library space," says Martina Boyle, Librarian at Ballywaltrim. 

It’s also a great way for new parents to get to know each other. While the babies play, the room fills with adult conversation and laughter alongside babies' coos and cries. Some of the parents have set up their own WhatsApp group and meet at a local café after the session.  

"This self-led, safe and age-appropriate space has enabled friendships to form naturally," Martina says. 

The library builds on these connections in other ways too, introducing parents to events like story time and its FAST (Fun Accessible Sensory Toys) collection. It has also partnered with local speech and language therapists on a workshop about the value of reading and chatting with babies using books. 

Most families who come to Tummy Time keep coming back as their baby grows: for stories, toys, and a chat. "The children are very comfortable in the library," Martina says, noting that as they get older, they take real pride in earning their own library card to borrow books. 

While Ballywaltrim creates connections at the beginning of family life, libraries also work with established community groups to respond to wider local needs. 

Supporting communities in Longford 

Libraries operate at the heart of every community, and they develop services by listening to needs of their users. They welcome ideas on how new services might be introduced. Longford Library's Storm Ready Pack, developed in close collaboration with Longford’s Older People's Council, is a great example. 

In the aftermath of Storm Éowyn in 2025, rural areas in Longford were left without electricity for some time and this created significant challenges, particularly for older and more vulnerable people. 

To help people prepare for similar emergencies in the future, the Storm Ready Pack was created. 

"The Storm Ready Pack includes useful items like a power bank to help keep phones charged, a head torch, flask, as well as a clear information booklet about resources available," says Paula Mulry, Senior Executive Librarian with Longford Library. "We’ve worked with An Garda Síochána and the elected representatives to help get them out to people who could benefit."  

It’s been a very successful project. Over 250 packs have been distributed to date, and the project has been nominated for a National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement award. Funding has now been secured for an additional 500 packs to go out to vulnerable people ahead of the coming winter. 

Reading, wellbeing and friendship in Louth 

Libraries keep finding new ways to bring people together, including through reading itself. 

Dundalk Library has set up a popular Reading for Wellbeing group, built around the idea that reading and talking about books can support people's wellbeing as well as entertain them. 

The group kicked off last November, and it’s been going from strength to strength ever since. 

"We wanted it to be more than a traditional book club, and to look at reading as something that can support wellbeing as well as bring people together," says Ciara Stewart, Assistant Librarian with Dundalk Library, who helped set it up. 

The members of the group themselves shape the activities, whether that's discussing different genres of books, writing poetry, book journaling or even origami. "There's no pressure to read a particular book," Ciara says. "It's very relaxed, with plenty of tea and coffee, and people have really got to know one another." 

For some members, the group helped them settle into a new community. "Early on, two American women who were new to Ireland joined the group, and it was a great way for them to meet people and feel more settled," Ciara says. "That community-building side of it has become a really important part of the group." 

Creating a social space in north Dublin 

Informal social activities can be just as important, particularly for people who may otherwise have few opportunities to meet others locally. 

In north County Dublin, Rush Library is housed in a former church that has long been a gathering place for the local community. Today, one of the groups meeting there is the Rush Library Age Friendly Social Club. 

The club was developed to create an easy and welcoming way for older people to meet others and help reduce social isolation. There's no complicated programme: people play board games, do sudoku, and chat and laugh together. Scrabble has become a particular favourite. 

Around a dozen people gather for the social club on a typical Wednesday morning. "People just enjoy being together," says Marie-Therese Walsh, Librarian at Rush. "Over time they're getting to know one another, and the group has really developed its own rhythm." 

Joining the social club can also open the door to other things. "One of the lovely things is that people might initially come in for the board games, but while they're here they see all the other things happening in the library," Marie-Therese says. "They might decide to try chair yoga or sign up for a smartphone class, where they can learn practical digital skills such as online banking or booking flights." 

"There's so much more to libraries than books," Marie-Therese says. "We see the library as a hub for social inclusion and for the community, and we try to be as welcoming and inclusive as we can." 

National Public Libraries Open Day takes place on September 26 and will see local libraries open their doors to showcase the services, resources, and opportunities available in communities nationwide. Visit your local library to become a member for free and discover the benefits of membership. 

For details drop into your local library or visit the Libraries Ireland web page.