Belfast Central Library

Belfast Central Library is a the public library in Belfast.
It in 1888, it was one of the first major public library buildings in Ireland and is currently undergoing some much needed renovations.
It offers great service. Staff were very helpful when I used this place for revision.
A recent addition to the Library’s collections is the Northern Ireland Music Archive, a computerised database housing recordings, scores and other materials relating to music created by Northern Ireland composers/​artists. An institution that has served many a student in it’s day.

Belfast Central Library opened in 1888, it is bound to be one of the first library buildings in Ireland. It has survived the war and the troubles. You’ll find this library in the Cathedral quarter on Royal Avenue on the edge of the city center.
I think it is now managed by the Belfast Library Board so its in a network which is helpful if you are wanting to track something down. There are reading rooms upstairs and downstairs there is free wifi and a music library.

This place is hopelessly limited in terms of the books it stocks. The staff are lovely and so helpful but I really don’t find it that useful. It’s easier to just go and buy the damn book in Waterstones because ⁹⁄₁₀ the library doesn’t have it.

I’ve only used this old library on one occasion (bar my ill fated ‘revision’ session back when I was at uni which failed to work). It’s located just beside the Telegraph and around the corner from The Irish News.
Now, my only encounter with this fine building was back when I was with the Irish News on an initial placement. I was required to get a copy of a story written previously by the Sunday Life. It centred around the wife of a well known member of parliament and turned which later turned out to be the biggest non-​sectarian story this country has seen in a long while.
I managed to get the copy with no problem, 30p for a photocopy and I was done. Very friendly staff, very quick and very professional. I really didn’t give this place a chance regarding the actual number of books it has but it was certainly efficient in this regard.

Although it is a fine resource I have mixed feelings about Belfast Central Library, having spent many hours in the Irish studies section researching local history. Just about anything in that line that you might need is available like other large formal libraries
there is a system of requesting a book that staff will go and get for you.
Mostly that worked fine but there were occasions when staff members really didn’t seem willing to help and it creates a bad impression and puts me off using the library unless I’m really desperate. There are other libraries in the city with a much more welcoming atmosphere.
On the other hand the opening hours are useful if you need to come here after work and there plenty of computer terminals for access to library members, with quite a good lending section on
the ground floor and a useful coffee shop downstairs.

Belfast Central Library is a great institution. One of the first libraries opened in Ireland, it still provides the general public with innumerable services and facilities.
There’s a lovely café on the ground floor selling coffee, tea, hot chocolate etc. and after you’ve refreshed yourself you can make use of the free computer and Internet facilities which are available for use throughout the building. The top floor houses the only dedicated Music Library in Northern Ireland, which is a great service and costs a small amount to rent out the Cd’s.
The Library also houses a number of special collections including archives, extremely old books (i.e. printed before 1500AD!), Irish Language manuscripts, literary manuscripts, maps, postcards, photographs, theatre and cinema collections. It also holds the F. J Bigger Library and Archive (a practising solicitor whose chief interest was Irish antiquities, he devoted his life to the study of Irish archaeology and Ulster history.) The building also houses a fine collection of maps, both contemporary and antiquarian. There’s also the ‘Theatre Collection’ which consists of three thousand Irish theatre programmes. It’s quite a comprehensive historical collection (the newspaper reviews, posters and programmes date from 1821 onwards!)
In the Library there are various facilities available for use including public lifts, public toilets, meeting rooms, exhibition Space, a fax service and photocopiers.
Call in to the alluring old building and check out some of these helpful services. The staff are hospitable and the building is a beautiful example of Victorian Belfast.
N.B. The Library are currently carrying out some renovations and at the moment the outer façade of the building can’t be seen (such a pity!) hopefully this will be completed soon though!