BAFM MEMBERS NEWS - 5
THE FRIENDS OF THE LINEN HALL LIBRARY
LIBRARY FOUNDED IN 1788
“No institution in Northern Ireland has done more to promote enlightenment and to represent the promise of a better future for all citizens.” Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney.
The Linen Hall Library is Belfast’s oldest library and the only remaining library in Ireland that raises some of its income from membership. Founded in 1788 the Library houses a comprehensive general selection of books along with a number of collections of international renown, including the Northern Ireland Political Collection, which charts the history of the ‘Troubles’. It also houses the Vertical Gallery exhibition space, coffee shop with sweeping views of Donegall Square, a gift shop with unique, high-quality gifts, and a schedule of events including author readings, performances, language classes, discussions and lectures.
This year the Library will play host to a number of stunning exhibitions including Treasures of the Linen Hall this summer (2010) which features never-before-seen items from our archives including maps, political cartoons, theatrical memorabilia and more.
The Library is open free to the public, however membership is encouraged and brings lots of benefits such as the ability to borrow up to eight titles at a time, discounts on all goods sold in the Library as well as ticketed events, access to restricted information, internet access, and advance copies of our events guides and newsletters.
There is an active Friends’ Group which provides both a social focus for members and also acts as a vehicle for raising money to help the library with special projects. Any member of the Library can become a ‘Friend’. Day trips are organised regularly to places throughout Ireland e.g. libraries, houses associated with literary figures and historic gardens.
We have hosted readings in the library by novelists, poets and celebrities. The Friends’ Group was launched by P. D. James and readers have included John Julius Norwich, Grey Gowrie, Maeve Binchy and Rosamund Pilcher. We have play readings and performances – for examples from the works of local writers such as Rutherford Mayne and Amanda McKittrick Ross.
We have run a number of extremely successful study trips, mainly based in the Irish College (Centre Culturel Irlandais) in the Latin Quarter of Paris. We have also organised trips to Rome, to Oxford, to Clonmacnois/Birr and to Donegal (Flight of the Earls).
If you haven’t been to the Linen Hall Library, stop by and take a look at what this Belfast gem has to offer.
For more information please visit our website:
www.linenhall.com
THE FRIENDS OF BUSHEY MUSEUM
ARTIST COMMISSIONED
The Friends of Bushey Museum commissioned an artist, Vicki White, to paint a portrait of Bryen and Julie Wood, but, sadly, Bryen, their Director, died last year. The portrait is on the front cover of the Friends’ newsletter and tribute is paid to him inside.
|