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Athy Library
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Home : Library : Athy Library : Library Services


About Us


Athy Community Library is located on the first floor of the old Town Hall on Emily Square, in the centre of the town. The building itself dates from c.1740 and was originally a Market House and Assembly Rooms. It was twice enlarged in the early 19th and 20th centuries. Kildare County Council with the assistance of FAS repaired and renovated the building between 1983-1991. The library opened in its present location in 1992.

Athy Heritage Centre is located on the ground floor of the building, while the library is located on the first floor. It is accessible by stairs and by lift, and consists of - Adult Lending Room, Children’s Lending Room, Adult Reference Room, Exhibition/ Multi-purpose Room, and a Community Information area.

  • Library Services
  • Adult and Children’s lending and reference sections
  • Online catalogue
  • 6 computers with free Internet Access and Microsoft Office; one is equipped with assistive technology software and various types of keyboards, mice etc. suitable for people with disabilities.
  • 1 computer with CD-ROM drive – software includes the Driver Theory Test CDRom
  • Self learning Computer packages ECDL and Microsoft Specialist
  • Photocopying facilities for library material and printing facilities for computer users
  • Local and National newspapers
  • Wide range of periodicals
  • Adult and Children’s literacy collections
  • Local Studies Section
  • Local heritage material such as Sites and Monuments Constraints Maps, Recorded Monuments of Co Kildare, a photographic collection of Athy and a complete set of the Journals of Kildare Archaeological Society
  • Community, Exhibition and Gallery space
  • Large print and Audio books
  • Language learning material
  • Community information such as application forms, local history files, books and leaflets on rights and entitlements etc
  • TV and Video unit available
  • Class visits
  • Block loans and tours available to groups on request
  • Study area
  • Community notice board
  • Request and Inter Library loan Service
  • Business Information including local directories and Kompass online
  • Multicultural Collection