262:
361:
328:
151:
42:
528:
324:, and which the Library occupies as of 2009. At the same time it made the transition from being a private company to one with public duties with regard to care for its collections. This was also a period when the Library became much more ambitious, collecting books with a new vigour and implementing many cultural programmes.
408:
In addition to providing a free public reference service and a general lending service for both adults and children the
Library also houses several special collections. It is the leading centre for "Irish and Local Studies" in Northern Ireland which includes its comprehensive stock of "Early Belfast
428:
for
Northern Ireland, the Linen Hall Library is collecting all books and journals published in Northern Ireland in the 21st century to create NIPR, the National Collection of Northern Ireland Publications (originally the Northern Ireland Publication Resource). The collection is split between the
273:
The Linen Hall
Library is a unique institution. It was founded in 1788 by a group of artisans as the Belfast Reading Society and in 1792 became the Belfast Society for Promoting Knowledge. It adopted a resolution in 1795 "that the object of this Society is the collection of an extensive Library,
368:
After 1980 a fight began to save the library. It was decided that it should begin to allow and encourage free public reference access and to concentrate particularly on Irish studies, politics and culture, both because it was already strong in these areas and so as not to compete with
285:
in 1796) and also other items which could be used to advance knowledge. The society declined in the later 1790s however, as it owned no permanent premises and struggled with official attempts to control radical thought, though it survived a crackdown after the
380:
on the upper floors of some neighbouring property in 1996. This was followed by an extensive fundraising campaign to pay for the development of this new property. Construction began in 1999 and was completed in time for the opening on 16 September 2000.
409:
and Ulster printed books", periodicals and newspapers dating back as far as 1738 and a wide variety of archive and manuscript material. It also contains an extensive collection of maps (some of great historical interest) and extensive materials in the
413:. Its "Northern Ireland Political Collection" collected since 1968 contains 250,000 items and is the definitive archive of the recent troubles, containing material looking at all sides of the conflict. It also houses collections devoted to
297:(from which it took its name, though legally it is still the Belfast Society for Promoting Knowledge). The Library struggled, however, through most of the 19th century. It became more conservative, attempting to exclude students from
373:. The move was a success. The number of subscribers began to increase and the library increased its role as a cultural centre, both facilitating research and fostering close links with the wider community.
247:
in
Northern Ireland. The Library is physically in the centre of Belfast, and more generally at the centre of the cultural and creative life of the wider community. It is an independent and charitable body.
347:
bombing in the city centre led to membership levels falling. By the end of the 1970s the
Library was on the brink of closure, with large amounts of material (including an extensive collection relating to
352:) but a poor building, few users and serious money problems. In response, the Department of Education threatened to withdraw its grant and in 1980 proposals were made to close the Library permanently.
751:
981:
343:
it was a hub of creativity in
Northern Ireland. It failed to secure this position, though and in the years following began to decline. Investment in public libraries combined with extensive
619:
560:
376:
It quickly became apparent that lack of space was holding back the library's revival. After spending ten years exploring various options, a decision was made to purchase a 999-year
991:
716:
491:
1001:
971:
796:
684:
553:
664:
629:
624:
1016:
1011:
986:
639:
198:
996:
909:
821:
546:
876:
659:
59:
1006:
344:
125:
392:
for his first visit to the library. A poet himself, Higgins was particularly interested in resources pertaining to local poet Sir
801:
746:
679:
308:
approached it was hit by another setback as it lost its premises in White Linen Hall to make way for the construction of the new
298:
274:
philosophical apparatus and such products of nature and art as tend to improve the mind and excite a spirit of general enquiry".
106:
766:
78:
741:
721:
701:
604:
63:
360:
976:
85:
518:
836:
191:
881:
886:
771:
731:
711:
696:
689:
654:
649:
609:
594:
584:
781:
92:
914:
871:
816:
806:
786:
776:
761:
756:
706:
674:
488:
934:
919:
866:
52:
841:
726:
599:
929:
463:
384:
On 27 October 2016 Linen Hall Board
President Anne Davies and Director Julie Andrews had the honor of welcoming
904:
614:
589:
74:
277:
It began to acquire books (with a particular focus on those relating to Irish topics, publishing, for example
791:
669:
532:
430:
370:
321:
924:
811:
644:
294:
736:
385:
244:
173:
389:
28:
339:
the
Library's success continued as the public library system was slow to develop and even after
99:
309:
266:
950:
569:
425:
397:
327:
265:
The original Linen Hall
Library in 1888, shortly before its demolition and replacement with
150:
848:
826:
495:
393:
336:
313:
261:
634:
410:
317:
287:
282:
965:
418:
349:
340:
17:
41:
538:
213:
200:
414:
305:
396:. A choir consisting of students from Holy Cross Boys' Primary School and
377:
240:
236:
183:
464:"Linen Hall Library Welcomes President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins"
467:
359:
326:
260:
542:
35:
511:
489:
NIPR (Research and
Special Collections Available Locally)
516:
466:. Linen Hall Library. 31 October 2016. Archived from
293:
In 1802 the Library moved into permanent premises in
943:
895:
857:
577:
316:(previously used for linen), which was designed by
190:
179:
169:
164:
143:
66:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
982:Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize recipients
138:Subscription library in Belfast, Northern Ireland
301:and debating whether or not to include fiction.
400:performed for the guests of the notable event.
498:, 25 August 2018 (Retrieved 27 September 2018)
554:
290:thanks to the efforts of Rev. William Bruce.
8:
992:Subscribing libraries in the United Kingdom
561:
547:
539:
140:
126:Learn how and when to remove this message
312:. The Library moved into a warehouse in
235:is located at 17 Donegall Square North,
523:
442:
239:, Northern Ireland. It is the oldest
7:
364:Donegall Square North, Belfast, 2012
64:adding citations to reliable sources
1002:History museums in Northern Ireland
972:Buildings and structures in Belfast
421:and Northern Irish performing art.
25:
526:
331:Linen Hall Library, October 2009
149:
40:
51:needs additional citations for
1017:1788 establishments in Ireland
1012:Tourist attractions in Belfast
1:
987:Libraries in Northern Ireland
997:Archives in Northern Ireland
1033:
449:Linen Hall Library (1968)
26:
1007:Grade B1 listed buildings
494:28 September 2018 at the
160:
148:
243:in Belfast and the last
214:54.5973889°N 5.9315361°W
27:Not to be confused with
431:Belfast Central Library
429:Linen Hall Library and
371:Belfast Central Library
620:Bosnia and Herzegovina
451:Prospectus and by-laws
365:
332:
270:
219:54.5973889; -5.9315361
363:
330:
264:
977:Education in Belfast
386:President of Ireland
174:Subscription library
75:"Linen Hall Library"
60:improve this article
858:States with limited
279:Ancient Irish Music
245:subscribing library
210: /
165:General information
570:National libraries
512:Linen Hall Library
470:on 3 November 2016
424:Since there is no
390:Michael D. Higgins
366:
333:
271:
233:Linen Hall Library
186:, Northern Ireland
155:Linen Hall Library
144:Linen Hall Library
29:Linda Hall Library
959:
958:
304:As the Library's
267:Belfast City Hall
229:
228:
136:
135:
128:
110:
18:Linenhall Library
16:(Redirected from
1024:
896:Dependencies and
832:Northern Ireland
578:Sovereign states
563:
556:
549:
540:
533:Northern Ireland
531:
530:
529:
522:
499:
486:
480:
479:
477:
475:
460:
454:
447:
426:national library
398:Campbell College
295:White Linen Hall
225:
224:
222:
221:
220:
215:
211:
208:
207:
206:
203:
153:
141:
131:
124:
120:
117:
111:
109:
68:
44:
36:
21:
1032:
1031:
1027:
1026:
1025:
1023:
1022:
1021:
962:
961:
960:
955:
939:
897:
891:
877:Northern Cyprus
859:
853:
752:North Macedonia
573:
567:
537:
527:
525:
517:
508:
503:
502:
496:Wayback Machine
487:
483:
473:
471:
462:
461:
457:
448:
444:
439:
406:
394:Samuel Ferguson
358:
337:Interwar period
314:Donegall Square
299:Queen's College
259:
254:
218:
216:
212:
209:
204:
201:
199:
197:
196:
156:
139:
132:
121:
115:
112:
69:
67:
57:
45:
32:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1030:
1028:
1020:
1019:
1014:
1009:
1004:
999:
994:
989:
984:
979:
974:
964:
963:
957:
956:
954:
953:
951:European Union
947:
945:
944:Other entities
941:
940:
938:
937:
932:
927:
922:
917:
912:
907:
901:
899:
898:other entities
893:
892:
890:
889:
884:
879:
874:
869:
863:
861:
855:
854:
852:
851:
846:
845:
844:
839:
834:
827:United Kingdom
824:
819:
814:
809:
804:
799:
794:
789:
784:
779:
774:
769:
764:
759:
754:
749:
744:
739:
734:
729:
724:
719:
714:
709:
704:
699:
694:
692:
687:
682:
677:
672:
667:
662:
657:
652:
647:
642:
640:Czech Republic
637:
632:
627:
622:
617:
612:
607:
602:
597:
592:
587:
581:
579:
575:
574:
568:
566:
565:
558:
551:
543:
536:
535:
515:
514:
507:
506:External links
504:
501:
500:
481:
455:
441:
440:
438:
435:
411:Irish language
405:
402:
357:
354:
318:Charles Lanyon
288:1798 rebellion
283:Edward Bunting
258:
255:
253:
250:
227:
226:
194:
188:
187:
181:
177:
176:
171:
167:
166:
162:
161:
158:
157:
154:
146:
145:
137:
134:
133:
48:
46:
39:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1029:
1018:
1015:
1013:
1010:
1008:
1005:
1003:
1000:
998:
995:
993:
990:
988:
985:
983:
980:
978:
975:
973:
970:
969:
967:
952:
949:
948:
946:
942:
936:
933:
931:
928:
926:
923:
921:
918:
916:
913:
911:
910:Faroe Islands
908:
906:
903:
902:
900:
894:
888:
885:
883:
882:South Ossetia
880:
878:
875:
873:
870:
868:
865:
864:
862:
856:
850:
847:
843:
840:
838:
835:
833:
830:
829:
828:
825:
823:
820:
818:
815:
813:
810:
808:
805:
803:
800:
798:
795:
793:
790:
788:
785:
783:
780:
778:
775:
773:
770:
768:
765:
763:
760:
758:
755:
753:
750:
748:
745:
743:
740:
738:
735:
733:
730:
728:
725:
723:
720:
718:
715:
713:
712:Liechtenstein
710:
708:
705:
703:
700:
698:
695:
693:
691:
688:
686:
683:
681:
678:
676:
673:
671:
668:
666:
663:
661:
658:
656:
653:
651:
648:
646:
643:
641:
638:
636:
633:
631:
628:
626:
623:
621:
618:
616:
613:
611:
608:
606:
603:
601:
598:
596:
593:
591:
588:
586:
583:
582:
580:
576:
571:
564:
559:
557:
552:
550:
545:
544:
541:
534:
524:
520:
513:
510:
509:
505:
497:
493:
490:
485:
482:
469:
465:
459:
456:
452:
446:
443:
436:
434:
432:
427:
422:
420:
416:
412:
403:
401:
399:
395:
391:
387:
382:
379:
374:
372:
362:
356:Later history
355:
353:
351:
346:
342:
338:
329:
325:
323:
319:
315:
311:
307:
302:
300:
296:
291:
289:
284:
280:
275:
268:
263:
257:Early history
256:
251:
249:
246:
242:
238:
234:
223:
205:05°55′53.53″W
202:54°35′50.60″N
195:
193:
189:
185:
182:
178:
175:
172:
168:
163:
159:
152:
147:
142:
130:
127:
119:
108:
105:
101:
98:
94:
91:
87:
84:
80:
77: –
76:
72:
71:Find sources:
65:
61:
55:
54:
49:This article
47:
43:
38:
37:
34:
30:
19:
887:Transnistria
849:Vatican City
831:
484:
472:. Retrieved
468:the original
458:
450:
445:
423:
419:Robert Burns
407:
383:
375:
367:
350:The Troubles
341:World War II
334:
303:
292:
278:
276:
272:
232:
230:
122:
116:October 2010
113:
103:
96:
89:
82:
70:
58:Please help
53:verification
50:
33:
925:Isle of Man
860:recognition
812:Switzerland
747:Netherlands
417:, the poet
217: /
192:Coordinates
966:Categories
782:San Marino
742:Montenegro
722:Luxembourg
702:Kazakhstan
605:Azerbaijan
437:References
86:newspapers
915:Gibraltar
717:Lithuania
572:of Europe
474:28 August
415:genealogy
310:City Hall
306:centenary
935:Svalbard
920:Guernsey
867:Abkhazia
837:Scotland
797:Slovenia
792:Slovakia
767:Portugal
625:Bulgaria
492:Archived
404:Holdings
322:his firm
180:Location
822:Ukraine
772:Romania
732:Moldova
690:Ireland
685:Iceland
680:Hungary
670:Germany
665:Georgia
655:Finland
650:Estonia
645:Denmark
630:Croatia
615:Belgium
610:Belarus
600:Austria
595:Armenia
590:Andorra
585:Albania
335:In the
252:History
241:library
237:Belfast
184:Belfast
100:scholar
930:Jersey
872:Kosovo
817:Turkey
807:Sweden
787:Serbia
777:Russia
762:Poland
757:Norway
737:Monaco
707:Latvia
675:Greece
660:France
635:Cyprus
519:Portal
453:; p. 2
102:
95:
88:
81:
73:
905:Åland
842:Wales
802:Spain
727:Malta
697:Italy
378:lease
107:JSTOR
93:books
476:2018
320:and
231:The
170:Type
79:news
345:IRA
281:by
62:by
968::
433:.
388:,
562:e
555:t
548:v
521::
478:.
269:.
129:)
123:(
118:)
114:(
104:·
97:·
90:·
83:·
56:.
31:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
