Young People and Public Libraries in Ireland: Issues and Opportunities

Abstract

The responses to this survey on young people’s use of and views on public libraries in Ireland demonstrate that public libraries provide a wide range of services to young adults, but these are unevenly distributed throughout the country and, indeed, within library authorities. Innovative and attractive services have been provided and more are planned. Many services, however, are limited by lack of space, paucity of training for library staff, the absence of any dedicated young adults’ librarians and a low level of knowledge of, and interest in, libraries on the part of teenagers, as well as competition with their other activities.