New local studies reading and research room launched at Tullamore Library

Offaly Libraries has officially launched a new Local Studies Reading and Research Room at Tullamore Library.

The facility was formally opened by Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr John Leahy, and attended by Deputy Chief Executive Ann Dillon, elected members, representatives from Offaly Archives and local history enthusiasts on Tuesday, January 13

The new space provides a dedicated hub for research, reading and digital preservation, enabling users to explore Offaly’s heritage while also preserving personal and family memories. Equipped with modern technology, the facility supports both traditional research and do-it-yourself digitisation.

Launching the room, Cllr Leahy praised the innovation and investment behind the project, describing it as an important point of access for researchers, students and visitors engaging with Offaly’s history.

"This bespoke facility provides a dedicated point of access for researchers, students and visitors to connect with a vast suite of resources.

"The Local Studies Reading and Research Room also functions as a Memory Capture Lab accessible to all, equipped to preserve media stored on ageing formats such as film negatives, cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs and floppy disks.

Deputy Chief Executive Ann Dillon said that although the Reading and Research Room is based in Tullamore Library, it forms part of Offaly Libraries’ countywide Local Studies Service.

She noted that the collections have been developed through extensive research and collaboration with community partners and complement Offaly County Council’s archival holdings in Offaly Archives.

The collection includes newspapers, photographs, maps, audiovisual material, oral history recordings, journals and books, alongside access to online resources such as Irish Newspaper Archives, Find My Past and JSTOR. The Reading and Research Room is open by appointment from January 14, 2026, with staff available to assist visitors.