Clare County Library is in the process of preparing a five-year Library Development Plan and is looking for opinions from its users (and even non-users) about the development and future priorities of the service.
Now Clare Library has a terrific Local Studies Department, led by a highly experienced and dedicated Local Studies team. Practically every month I post about new uploads being added to their website, often donated by transcribers from around the world or by co-operation with Clare Roots Society, but also frequently transcribed, collated or written by members of the Local Studies team.
Just take a look at the Genealogy & Family History section of the Clare County Library website and tell me you wouldn't wish for the same from the library of your ancestors' county! I'd declare you crackers! Family historians with Clare connections are very well served, indeed: they know it and they value it.
So how could this outstanding example of a Local Studies Department be further developed to help researchers? Since the chiefs are asking, why not let them hear your opinions? Maybe you could mull the question over between the Christmas pud and the New Year champers and then put your thoughts together in a letter or email to the County Librarian by 31 January.
Submissions should be emailed to mailbox@clarelibrary.ie or sent by post to: County Librarian, Development Plan Submission, Clare County Library HQ, Mill Road, Ennis, Co Clare.
You can find out more about this consultation process on the Library's blog.