CroÃlár an Cheantair
Osclaíodh an Leabharlann Phoiblí i Seantalamh go hoifigiúil i mí Eanáir, 1992. Ní féidir áibhéil a dhéanamh ar thábhacht na háise seo. Tá réimse leathan de leabhair ann, cosúil le leabharlann ar bith eile. Tá bailiúchán mór ann faoi stair áitiúil agus faoi stair náisiúnta. Tá rogha mhaith de leabhair Ghaeilge ann, leabhair do pháistí ach go háirithe. Tagann daltaí bunscoile chuig an leabharlann lena múinteoirí go rialta agus bíonn siad páirteach in imeachtaí éagsúla ansin i rith na bliana. Freastalaítear go maith ar Bhéarlóirí óga fosta ar ndóigh. Feictear máithreacha ansin lena bpáistí gach uile lá (agus aithreacha uaireanta fosta!) ag léamh leo. Bíonn seisiún amhrán agus rannta ann gach Máirt. Is cuma leis na daoine fásta an trup! Baineann na páistí sult as agus bíonn siad ag foghlaim le chéile. Riartar ar dhaoine fásta chomh maith. Bíonn seisiún cniotála ann, mar shampla, agus pléitear nuacht sna páipéir ag seisiún eile. Tá nuachtáin laethúla agus irisí ar fáil. Deirtear go bhfuil na leabhair in iomaíocht leis an Idirlíon, ach ‘Fág an tír nó bí san fhaisean’. Tá ríomhairí go leor ann agus tá cuidiú ar fáil ó na leabharlannaithe más gá. Is féidir le Google 100,000 freagra a thabhairt duit, ach is féidir le leabharlannaí an ceann ceart a thabhairt duit, mar a dúirt an té a dúirt é. Is múinteoirí gan seomra ranga iad. Bhí dlúthcheangal idir an leabharlann agus an pobal i gcónaí. Nuair a chuaigh an leabharlann trí thine roinnt blianta ó shin, cuireadh seirbhís ar fáil i gColáiste Bhríde. Dúirt duine éigin eile gur ionann leabharlann a dhúnadh i rith chúlú eacnamaíochta agus otharlann a dhúnadh i rith plá. Tá na leabharlanna faoi bhrú cosúil le gach seirbhís phoiblí eile faoi láthair, cé go bhfuil airgead le dó againne i gcásanna áirithe. Caithfimid ár leabharlanna a chosaint. Agus an dóigh is fearr? Úsáid a bhaint astu go minic.
Translation
A Community Hub
Last year was the great commemoration year. But we have another important anniversary in Derry this month. Shantallow Public Library was opened officially in January 1992.You cannot exaggerate the importance of this facility. It has a wide range of books like any other library. There is a large collection of local and national history books. There is a good selection of books in Irish, particularly children’s books. Irish primary school pupils come to the library on a regular basis with their teachers, and they take part in various events during the year. Young English speakers are also catered for, of course. Every day you can see mothers (and fathers as well sometimes!) reading with them. They have song and rhyme sessions every Tuesday. The adults don’t mind the noise! The children are enjoying it and they are learning together. Adults are catered for as well. There is a knitting session, for example and news from the papers is discussed in another session. Daily newspapers and magazines are available. They say that books are in competition with the Internet, but if you can’t beat them, join them. There are lots of computers and help is at hand if necessary. Google can give you 100,000 answers, but the librarian can give you the right one, as someone said. They are teachers without a classroom. There has always been a close connection between the library and the community. After a fire in the library a number of years ago, a service was provided in St. Brigid’s College. Someone else said that closing a library during an economic recession is like closing a hospital during a plague. The libraries are under pressure like every other public service at present, although we have money to burn in some cases. We must protect our libraries. And the best way to do this? By using them regularly.