The National Library of Ireland (NLI) is the library of record for Ireland. Established in 1877.

The NLI shares the story of Ireland with the world through our unique collections. We care for more than ten million items, including books, manuscripts, newspapers, photographs, prints, maps, drawings, ephemera, music and digital media. The Library’s sites in Dublin, including the National Photographic Archive in Temple Bar, are open, free of charge, to all those who wish to consult and explore the collections - through reading rooms which are visitor attractions in their own right, rich and varied exhibitions, and an active public programme

The National Library of Ireland, situated in Dublin City, is home to more than 12 million items.

The National Library of Ireland collects and preserves the documentary and intellectual record of the life of Ireland. It is open, free of charge, to all those who wish to consult the collections; receive assistance from the genealogy advisory service and visit the award winning exhibitions. Current exhibitions include Yeats: The Life and Works of William Butler Yeats, Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again and People & Places.

The Life and Work of William Butler Yeats which is an award winning exhibition for people of all ages and nationalities, exploring the story and the many works of one of Ireland’s most famous poets. This exhibition is in the main National Library building, 7-8 Kildare Street.

Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again is an exhibition on one of Ireland’s most loved poets and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. The exhibition draws on the National Library’s extensive archive of Heaney documents and features original manuscripts as well as diary entries and to-do lists. This exhibition is at the Bank of Ireland Cultural and Heritage Centre, Westmoreland Street, D02 VR66

The National Library of Ireland holds over five million photographs in our collections, and they create a unique and fascinating record of life in Ireland. The exhibition People & Places showcases 50 photographs, revealing the people and places of the island of Ireland from the 1850s to the turn of the 21st century in images and is located in the National Photographic Archive, in Temple Bar.
The Library hosts a wide variety of events including tours, workshops and public lectures.