and libraries in contemporary Dublin Reading Aims

and libraries in contemporary Dublin Reading

Aims and objectives To explore 1. . whether reading is a popular leisure activity in Dublin 2. . what‘s special about Dublin‘s public libraries 3. . whether the designation as a UNESCO city of literature has had an impact on the reading habits of the general public

Table of contents 1. Dublin - a city of literature 2. Our visit to the Ilac Central Library 1. Facts and figures about Dublin‘s public libraries 2. A librarian‘s view 3. Library services in the Ilac centre 3. Vox pop - Dublin‘s readers 1. statistical overview 4. Conclusion/reflections

Dublin - a city of literature?

our visit to the library facts and figures 1. The library aims to inform, enrich, empower, include and extend individual life chances. Therefore they provide equal and accessible services, information, ideas resources and programmes that everybody can benefit from. 2. Did you know? 1. libraries are free of charge in Ireland 2. Dublin has 41 service points with 2. 4 million visitors and 147, 281 library members 3. E. Blyton, R. Dahl and A. Christy are still on the top 100 most borrowed authors in 2010 4. the average visit lasts 17 minutes (adult library) 5. the borrowing books section was the most popular service in 2010 6. the highest rate of users in in the age-group 25 -44 7. female library users show a greater tendency to visit library exhibitions whereas male users would more likely borrow talking books or DVDs 8. the top 3 foreign language issues in 2009 were Polish (1028), Russian (347) and Chinese (346)

our visit to the library a librarian‘s view Interview with Aisling Murray and colleague of Ilac Library Centre: • Television, film and literature complement each other • Music and film DVD´s are very popular • Music downloads from Internet have caused a decrease in usage of music library • Audiobooks are popular, but e-books will be the challenge of the future • Book clubs (a. o. audio-, detective books) are supported by the library • Young adults are a difficult target group

our visit to the library a librarian‘s view Some more statements from the interview: • one effect of the recession was that readers have come back in public libraries and buy fewer books • the interest in career literature (writing CVs, etc. ) saw an increasing demand due to the recession; there was no other obvious increase/decrease of interest in any particular genre • a very successful promotional activity is the One City One Book initiative (Dubliners all read the same book during April every year - the chosen book in 2011 was Ghost Light by J. O‘Connor)

our visit to the library services in the Ilac Library Aims & missions: 1. Promoting literature and reading: • • • home delivery service prison library service reading groups & creative writing groups 2. devoted to life-long learning: • • 3. foreign language learning (with or without final exams) conversation exchange groups (foreign languages) information and enterprise: Business information service: ★ aimed at “learner entrepreneurs” ➡ providing vital information on Irish companies, market opportunities, legislation, business magazines, databases

our visit to the library services in the Ilac Library Aims & missions: 4. (inter) cultural activities • • • Organizing exhibitions inviting authors setting up a comprehensive summer programme both for adults and children 5. heritage There is a close cooperation with Dublin City Library and Archive: • • National Heritage Week (20 th to 28 th August) Genealogy: i. e. assisting people to research on their family origins

Dublin‘s readers statistical overview Vox pop - • Interview Operators: Ana, Axel, Marie-Louise, Mechthild, Mica - stat • 15 Dubliners – interviewed in the street Subjects’ Personal Identification Data: 1. AGE 2. GENDER 3. OCCUPATION

Sample - 15 Dubliner 15 - 70 yrs. PERSONAL DATA AGE: - between 31 – 60: 5 subjects 3 subjects - over 60: 7 subjects - between 15 – 30: GENDER: 9 subjects - females: 6 subjects - males: OCCUPATIONS: - 4 students, 2 teachers, 1 priest, 2 drivers, 5 retired persons, 1 unknown occupation

QUESTIONNAIRE ON READING Questions: 1. What is your reading preference ? (paper books/E-books) 2. Are you a library member? (yes/no) 3. How many books a year do you read? (number) 4. How important is reading to you on a scale of 1 to 10? (number) 5. Do you know that Dublin was designated the City of Literature in July 2010 as one of four cities in the world? (yes/no) 6. Has this increased the interest in reading of the general public? (yes/no) 7. Has this increased your interest in reading? (yes/no) 8. Who is your favourite author or what is your favourite book?

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS 1. Reading preference? - paper books: - E-books: 13 subjects 2. Library members? 10 subjects (67 % of the sample) 3. Number of books read a year? - less than 10 books: -between 10 and 20 books: -more than 20 books: 4. The importance of reading 7 subjects 3 subjects 5 subjects -maximum (10 points): 5 subjects -high (8 – 9 points): 6 subjects -average (under 8 points): 4 subjects (arithmetic mean per sample was 8. 2 points)

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS (continued) 5. Knowing about Dublin as the City of Literature in 2010? - yes: - no: 11 subjects 4 subjects 6. Has this increased reading in general public? - yes: - no answer: 3 subjects 7 subjects 5 subjects 7. Has this increased personal interest in reading? - yes: - no answer: 3 subjects 7 subjects 5 subjects

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS (continued) 8. Favourite author or favourite book: - James Patterson - Neil Gaiman (English author) - J. K. Rowling (“Harry Potter”) - Saul Bellow - Franz Kafka - James Joyce (“ Dubliners”) - John Updike - Hildebrandt - W. Urbrock - G. G. Marquez (“One Hundred Years of Solitude”) - Irvine Welsh - Iain Banks (“The Wasp Factory”) - Anthony Burgess Harper Lee (“To Kill A Mocking Bird”) - History books, factual books

conclusion - reflections • Dubliners are really into reading • Dublin’s libraries are lively, popular and help to promote culture and reading • Dublin’s designation as a UNESCO city of literature has made its people more conscious of the importance of literature • To put it into Anne Enright’s words: “In other towns clever people go out and make money. In Dublin, clever people go home and write their books. ” ff