The National Library of Ireland (NLI) was founded in 1877 and is nearly 150 years old. We are for everyone with an interest in Ireland, wherever they are in the world. We hold the national collections in trust for all the people of Ireland, with a mission to collect, protect and make accessible the recorded memory of Ireland, and an ambitious vision: to share the stories of Ireland with the world through our unparalleled collections. In 2024, a little-known short story by Bram Stoker, written in 1890, was uncovered in the Library’s collections, more than a century after its first publication.

The Library occupies a unique place in Ireland’s literary heritage. James Joyce chose its Reading Room as the setting for the famous “Scylla and Charybdis” episode of Ulysses, where Stephen Dedalus debates Shakespeare beneath the great domed ceiling that still welcomes readers today.

The National Library’s history is also shaped by the people who have worked within its walls. Former Director Richard Hayes played a key role in deciphering the Görtz cipher during the Second World War. At the same time, Director Thomas Lyster once defended students gathering on the Library’s front steps, insisting: “They must be allowed to sit there, because this is their library.”

That spirit continues to guide the NLI today. Alongside caring for Ireland’s documentary heritage, it remains a place for discovery and engagement.

Video of the NLI:  https://youtu.be/vNpeh4iYW3w?si=IqwcYPR0rnwJdIA4

Read more on its member site.