Galway Bay fm newsroom – Plans for a new 20 million euro cultural headquarters in the city are ‘well advanced.’
The Galway county library service, which is jointly run by the city and county council, is working to select an appropriate site for the Community Central Library.
The city library is currently based at the Hynes’ Building, St. Augustine Street.
The library service spends over 250 thousand euro a year on renting library facilities in the city – as it doesn’t have its own premises.
A feasibility study is underway with a view to finding a suitable location for the new cultural HQ and library, which is expected to cost in the region of 20 million euro.
Meanwhile, the local authorities are exploring avenues to extend library services to growing communities in areas including Barna/Knocknacarra, Carna, Claregalway, Kinvara, Mountbellew and Moycullen.
It’s also considering significant upgrade or extension works at libraries including Portumna, Oughterard and Athenry.
County Librarian Peter Rabbitte says going forward, there’ll be an effort to introduce more technology to libraries across Galway- from ebooks and iPads to 3D printers.
