Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Mary Coughlan T.D. will launch the final report on the Taobh Tíre library research project at Pettigo & Tullyhommon Resource Centre, Main Street, Pettigo at 3pm on Friday 31st July 2009.
Communities from Downings to Pettigo and from Oileán Thoraigh to St Johnston can access library services through Taobh Tíre outreach centres, set up by Donegal County Council Library Service and local partner organisations. Taobh Tíre sites are also located in Fanavolty, Baile na Finne, Falcarragh, Meenaneary, Kilcar, Arranmore and Letterkenny (2 sites).
Internet access to the library catalogue with a weekly delivery service for requested items is available, along with hundreds of dictionaries, encyclopedias and other reference works online for members at www.donegallibrary.ie. As communities are distant from an actual library, enquiries can be made to a virtual librarian through the Ask-A-Librarian section of the website. Partner organisations, typically Family Resource Centres and Co-Operatives, form the important link between the Library Service and the community, and Taobh Tíre could not succeed without these partnerships.
The report recommends Donegal County Council works to consolidate and mainstream Taobh Tíre in Donegal. Also that other local authorities consider Taobh Tíre as a model that could be replicated in other parts of the country. South Dublin Library Service is considering the Taobh Tíre model at present.
The full report is available online at http://www.librarycouncil.ie/policies/documents/TaobhTirefinalprintedreport.pdf.