Wicklow County Council has won an award for the county’s library service. The 2017 Irish Library Services Award was presented by Public Sector Magazine in its annual Excellence in Business Awards.
The prestigious award was in recognition of the extraneous range of services offered by the county’s 13 branch libraries which have become vital components of the educational, cultural and socio-economic development of communities and individuals in every part of the county.
The library service is at the forefront of organising commemorative events, providing space and materials for reflection. The ideals of 1916 – equal rights and opportunities, cherishing everyone equally – continue to inform the public library service in Wicklow.
Wicklow’s library service is built on values which are shared with library users, values which are fundamental to an equitable society: Social and Cultural inclusion and access in all its aspects; support for healthy and vibrant local communities, which are sustainable socially, culturally and economically.
The library service in the county is much more than the sum of its parts. Wicklow’s libraries are at the heart of communities, urban and rural, providing free public spaces for all. They foster reading and literacy and an appreciation of books from cradle to grave. The libraries also support learning, formal and informal, and deliver information in many and varied formats, to meet the many and varied needs of users.
Mr Michael Nicholson, Director of Services, Community, Cultural and Social Development, with Wicklow County Council, said: “I want to commend the County Librarian Brendan Martin and all the library staff for their commitment and hard work in making the Wicklow Library Service an example for others to follow.”
Welcoming the news of this award, the Cathaoirleach Cllr Edward Timmins offered his own congratulations to the County Librarian, Brendan Martin, and all his staff and thanked the public for their continued support for this valuable service.
Chief executive, Mr Frank Curran, added his congratulations to all the library staff and said the library service in Wicklow strengthened real democracy by enhancing civic participation and life opportunities for every resident of the County.
Public Sector Magazine will feature Wicklow County Council in a special publication with editorials on each of this year’s award winners.
