Dear students and staff
A very warm welcome to the new academic year, especially to first-year undergraduates, new postgraduates and new members of the Trinity community.
We start this academic year with the unveiling of the new plaque for the Eavan Boland Library (following its denaming and renaming) named after the Trinity graduate, academic and acclaimed Irish poet whose poetry often touched on her own studies at Trinity.
We would like to support you in your academic journey:
Library Supports & Services
Every student has access to a Subject Librarian, a dedicated librarian who is available to support you in your studies.
All Library staff are here to assist you. Ask any member of the helpful team at Library counters, email your Subject Librarian or library@tcd.ie.
The Library HITS (Helpful Information for Trinity Students) programme will help you with a range of skills workshops relevant to your studies.
New Library services are also regularly introduced. Check out the new Library of Things service, where readers can borrow a wide range of equipment from the service desks in the Eavan Boland, Hamilton and John Stearne libraries. They include headphones, light therapy lamps and much more.
We have introduced improvements in the Library Catalogue and ‘Articles and More’ platforms based on feedback from our users. The Click and Collect service now applies not just to materials in storage but also in reading rooms. The interfaces have also been improved to make it easier to search, locate and request materials.
RTÉ Documentary on the Old Library and Library Collections
RTÉ broadcast a three-episode documentary on the Old Library and Library Collections ‘Trinity Treasures’ during the summer featuring well known Trinity graduates, actor Ruth Negga, musician Eleanor McEvoy, and civil rights activist and former Senator, David Norris. These stellar alumni engaged with some of the Library’s unique collections and together with Library colleagues, students and myself, they explored medieval manuscripts, inspirational writings and modern archives. For new students it provides a flavour of what an extraordinary Library you have access to and is on RTÉ Player.
Gulliver at 300 Exhibition
The 300th anniversary of the publication of Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift is being celebrated by the Library which draws on our extensive collection of editions of Gulliver’s Travels. All are welcome tothe Gulliver at 300 exhibition in the Long Room and view our online exhibition.
Library events marking Ireland’s hosting of the EU Presidency
As part of Ireland’s hosting of the EU Presidency, we are expounding the theme of ‘Libraries for Democracy’. The series of events explores the role of libraries, knowledge and open dialogue in supporting democratic societies. The inaugural event of the series organised by the Library in collaboration with the Trinity Long Room Hub Arts & Humanities Research Institute will take place this week on Friday, 25th September 2026 featuring a keynote address by EU Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Mairead McGuinness, followed by a panel discussion moderated by myself as Librarian and College Archivist with stupendous guests. They include Director of the National Library of Latvia, Dagnija Baltiņa; Secretary General of LIBER (Association of European Research Libraries), Anja Smit; Director of National Archives of Ireland, Orlaith McBride; Head of Libraries Development for the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) in Ireland, Stuart Hamilton. All are welcome, for further details and registration click here.
Another highlight of the ‘Libraries for Democracy’ series is the Annual Burke Lecture featuring Dame Louise Richardson, President of the Andrew Carnegie Foundation on Thursday 12th November, 2026.
Old Library Redevelopment Project
The Old Library Redevelopment Project is moving apace as McCullough Mulvin Architects lead the Integrated Design Team in this major conservation and redevelopment project which will involve the closure of the Old Library anticipated towards the end of 2027. The designs include a beautiful new Research Collections Study Room and a new exhibition about the Book of Kells on the ground floor. Three quarters of a million of the most precious collection items have been safely transferred, security tagged and catalogued as part of the major decant of the Research Collections from the Old Library. We are currently planning the recant of these collections back to the Long Room for when it is due to reopen in 2030.
I would encourage all students and staff to visit the Old Library. Trinity staff and students can visit the Old Library and the ‘Book of Kells Experience’ in New Square for free through this link (by using Student/Staff ID number in the promo code box).
The Printing House
As part of the Old Library Redevelopment Project the newly conserved Printing House on New Square will host the Book of Kells manuscript during the closure of the Old Library. In the interim, the exhibition space is being used for displays from the Library’s collections showcasing the Virtual Trinity Library projects, and currently features ‘The Yeats Sisters and Irish Design’ celebrating the work of Cuala Industries. All are welcome to this free exhibition Monday-Friday 11am-3pm.
Laidlaw Library
The first ‘digital first and foremost’ Research & Innovation Laidlaw Library will be an anchor to the growing campus at Trinity East, on Dublin’s Grand Canal Quay, with an anticipated opening in 2028. As a new public-facing building, with an emphasis on sustainability, planning permission has been granted and the design phase is nearing completion. It will incorporate digital reading spaces, media creation spaces, fluid and flexible collaborative spaces for working and creating digital content, display and public spaces
International Engagement
During the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Trinity during the summer I was delighted to welcome him for a private visit to the Old Library where he was shown the Book of Armagh and a page opening with specific reference to his ancestral home Aghagower in Co Mayo.
During the EU Presidency we are regularly hosting visits from our European counterparts, including the EU General Affairs Council last week among many others.
And finally, this December, the Old Library is due to host Dior’s Pre-Fall 2027 collection. Staged by Northern Irish creative director Jonathan Anderson, the show takes place on Friday 4th December and will be the first time Dior has shown in Ireland. Whilst it is a private Dior guest event, it will be available to watch live-streamed.
With warmest good wishes for the coming semester,
Helen Shenton
