Taoiseach opens €22 million 'John and Aileen O'Reilly' Library at DCU
23rd April 2002

The Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern, td, officially opened the 'John and Aileen O'Reilly' Library at DCU today (Monday, 22 April 2002). Costing in excess of €22 million, the library is 10,000 square metres and can accommodate the information needs of 10,000 students and academics.

The Government, through the Department of Education and Science provided 50% of the funding for the library. The remaining 50% was sourced by the Trustees of DCU through private donations including a substantial personal gift from Sir Anthony O'Reilly through The O'Reilly Foundation, which completed the funding that was required for the project. The library is named after Sir Anthony's parents, John and Aileen, who lived within view of the building on Griffith Avenue.

Designed by Scott Tallon Walker, the three-storey library provides a spacious and light-filled working environment. The building is inviting, beautiful and offers a diverse range of unique and flexible study spaces. The library has a seating capacity of 1,200; three times the size of the original facility on campus.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Taoiseach stressed the importance of access to digital information to universities. "A university library is the hub of information and knowledge for students and academics. Increasingly this information is drawn from a wider field than the books on shelves. This library concentrates on providing access to electronic networks in specialist areas, to broad banks of information on the world wide web and through skilled staff, to helping students find and interpret authentic sources of expert knowledge."

Apart from study and publications areas, the library is equipped with 380 pcs with internet access. Throughout the building there are laptop docking areas with network access to facilitate students moving seamlessly from home or work to the library. There is also an Assistive Technology room offering specialised hardware, software and specialist assistance to disabled students.

The library has a unique mentoring suite, an IT skills training room and eighteen soundproof collaborative study rooms where students can work in teams on projects while accessing the resources of the library. Throughout the library there are casual seating areas where users can sit and read comfortably. On the ground floor there is a Zen garden - to add to the tranquillity of the surroundings, and on the lower ground floor students can relax in the restaurant.

"The Library has been designed to reflect DCU's desire to be a leader in the new knowledge society, promoting the mobility and transferability of knowledge." Said Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, president of DCU.

"It is a central element in our infrastructure and plays an important role in supporting current developments here at the university. Last September we opened Invent - our innovation and incubation centre - to encourage staff, students and graduates to undertake commercial ventures with the support of the university. Over the coming year or two we hope to undertake a number of specific developments reflecting our strategy to work with the community, industry and other institutions. The provision of facilities such as the John and Aileen O'Reilly Library are crucial to our development"

FUNDING

The library cost €22.2 million (£17.5 million). 50% was funded by the Government through the Department of Education and Science. Private donors funded the other 50% and included:

• Aon Corporation
• Citigroup
• The Dolan Family
• Fyffes
• The Kenny Family
• The Levin Family
• The MacDougall Family
• The Marron Family
• The Mitchell Family
• Nestlé
• The O'Halleran Family
• Sir Anthony and Lady O'Reilly
• Yamanouchi (Ireland)

ENDS

For further information:

Eilis O'Brien
Communications & Marketing: 700 5217 or 087 205 7125
Paul Sheehan
Director - Library: 700 5211