First library offers rare tomes and the odd ghost - Irish Architectural News

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First library offers rare tomes and the odd ghost

Archiseek / Ireland / News / 2001 / May 13 2001: First library offers rare tomes and the odd ghost

Archbishop Narcissus Marsh from Wiltshire was a serious character who knew how to get things done. Three hundred years ago this year, he launched his own information revolution in Ireland by single-handedly creating the country's first public library. Arriving in Dublin in 1679, Narcissus was disgusted with the establishment's attitude towards free access to the written word. While more than two centuries had passed since Gutenberg cranked out his first tome, some societies still believed that access for all to books was highly dangerous.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the original story which was a working link at the time of publication may be no longer available on the newspaper site. In that case, the dates and headline of the story will allow you to research the original through your local library. In addition, some newspaper sites may require registration, either at a cost or free.