Friday 17 May 2013

IGRS Library re-opens at Society of Genealogists

The Library of the Irish Genealogical Research Society will re-open tomorrow, Saturday 18 May, at the Society of Genealogists in London.

Internationally recognised as the most important collection of Irish genealogical materials in private hands, the Library had to leave its long-term home in the crypt of St Magnus the Martyr in Lower Thames Street on the expiry of its lease back in March. The move to the Society of Genealogists (SOG) is a temporary arrangement while the IGRS seeks a permanent accommodation solution.

Space at the SOG is limited, so it hasn't been possible to relocate all the Library's holdings; much has had to be put in storage, off-site. However, some of the most popular and regularly accessed materials can be made available to visitors at the new venue. Among them are collections of family manuscripts, including the Michael Leader manuscripts and the Rosemary ffolliott manuscripts; the Francis-Jane French collection; the Michael Leader Parish Register collection and all volumes of O'Kief, Cosh Mang. Many digitised collections will also be available on the Society's laptop.

As previously, the IGRS Library will be open only on Saturdays, but to fit in with the SOG schedule, operating times are slightly amended to 1:30pm to 5:30pm. IGRS Members may visit the Library free. Non-members are also welcome but a charge of £10 per visit is made. All visitors to the IGRS Library will be issued with a special temporary pass to the IGRS section for the day. This pass will not provide access to the SOG Library.

The Library team ask that anyone planning to visit should email in advance so that the relevant files and manuscripts can be retrieved from the SOG storeroom in time for their arrival.

The Society of Genealogists is located at Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, London EC1M 7BA. Map.