NI Libraries plan to displace the local history section in Downpatrick Library says Cllr Enright
Downpatrick Alliance Councillor Cadogan Enright has contacted the Chief Executive of the NI Library Service Jim O’Hagan and asked for an urgent review of plans to displace the Archive Section in Downpatrick Library and replace it with a gallery or performance space.
Councillor Enright said: “These plans are seriously flawed. This archive is a treasure-trove of County Down material for local historians and writers like myself.
“The Lecale area of County Down in particular has deep roots that are preserved in our archive.
“Like many local historians, I have left rare books or publications into the archive. The archive is well-used and much respected.”
Cllr Enright added: “Currently I am being told the plan is to move the archive out of its protected space and displace much of the adult section of the library. This will leave the archive without its effective protective screen and significantly reduce the choice available to library users.
“I have asked the NI Libraries chief Jim O’Hagan to look into these plans and consider alternatives.
“Firstly, the Library Service appears to have underestimated the value of this County Down archive and needs to re-consider if it should be doing this at all.
“Secondly, it is difficult to see why gallery space or performance space in Downpatrick is needed with the excellent Arts Centre and also the Saint Patrick’s centre with good galleries and performance spaces nearby.
“Finally, pointed out that the density of books in the Children’s Section is quite low. If this project is really to go ahead I have suggested that the Children’s Section could be co-located with the new space and that the existing Children’s Section be partitioned off to house the Archive.”
Councillor Cadogan added that everyone should write to the NI Libraries chief executive and let your thoughts and feelings be known.
He said: “The Library does have complaint forms that members of the public can request and fill in.
“But also consider writing to the chief executive at the email address:
Down News has requested a statement from Libraries NI and will publish the response in due course.
