Library Service

Lismore Library, in partnership with Waterford Sports Partnership and Healthy Waterford, is pleased to announce the launch of its Play Packs loan scheme designed to foster creativity, learning, and fun for young children in the community.

The Play Packs, carefully curated, contain a variety of engaging toys, games, and sporting equipment suitable for children of various ages. From toys and building blocks to puzzles and imaginative play sets, these packs are designed to spark curiosity and encourage play.

The launch event was attended by local councillors, library staff, Waterford Sports Partnership’s Active Cities Officer Lauren Walsh Kett, and Eoin Morrissey from Healthy Waterford, who have been delivering the Playful Communities (Streets) programme over the last number of years.

The launch of Lismore Library’s Play Packs was met with resounding enthusiasm from elected members in the community. Cllr. John Pratt praised the initiative as a testament to the library’s dedication to young residents, highlighting the invaluable learning opportunities through play, while Cllr. Donnchadh Mulcahy emphasised the packs’ role in fostering inclusivity and essential skill development, commending the library staff’s dedication.

Cllr. Niamh O’Donovan expressed her delight at the new resource, recognising its potential to provide more opportunities for families and organisations in the area to arrange community play days.

Debbie Johnston and Alan Butler explained the inspiration behind the Play Packs and their hopes for the initiative. Debbie Johnson remarked, “This adds to our library’s offerings to the community. We have seen the popularity of the Playful Communities project over the years and wanted to enable libraries to become a service to offer these packs to the community for loan.”

Alan Butler added, “In consultation with Waterford Sports Partnership and Healthy Waterford, we carefully selected the items in each Play Pack to ensure they are age-appropriate and aligned with early childhood development principles. Our goal is to provide resources that encourage creativity, problem-solving, and social interaction. We are excited to see how these packs will inspire and engage the children of Lismore and West Waterford.”

This initiative also builds upon the valuable work of the Playful Streets and Communities program run by Waterford Sports Partnership and Waterford City and County Council over the last number of years, in which over 80 individual communities throughout Waterford city and county participated.

The Play Packs will be available for borrowing by library members or local community groups. For further information, contact Lauren Walsh Kett at lwalshkett@waterfordsportspartnership.ie or Eoin Morrissey at eoinmorrissey@waterforcouncil.ie.

The initiative, in partnership with Waterford Libraries, Garter Lane Arts Centre and Waterford Healing Arts (part of Réalta), was implemented to bring comfort, joy, and emotional support to families with newborns in the Neonatal Unit UHW.

The children’s book trolley will contribute towards a nurturing and supportive environment for both infants and their families. Designed to bring a sense of normalcy and comfort during a challenging time, the trolley will provide families with the opportunity to read aloud to their babies, share stories, and create meaningful memories.

The book trolley was specially curated by Waterford Libraries in partnership with Garter Lane Arts Centre staff, with funding from the Well Festival of Arts & Wellbeing used to purchase a variety of children’s books, to help parents and family’s bond with their babies during their time in the Neonatal Unit.

This collaboration highlights the community’s commitment to supporting the well-being of babies and families facing the challenges of neonatal care.

Julie Moriarty, Clinical Nurse Manager 2 at the Neonatal Unit UHW, said, “When the idea for the trolley was introduced to us by the collaborative partnership, we recognised the invaluable opportunity this would present, to provide moments of peace, connection, and warmth to families during their time here. I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for the incredible new initiative that has been introduced to the Neonatal Unit, to foster bonding between babies and parents through reading books aloud during a time that can be emotionally taxing for them. This initiative will contribute significantly to the well-being of families, and we deeply appreciate the positive impact we have already started to witness and expect to evolve over the coming months.”

Mary Conway, City and County Librarian & Head of Culture, Waterford Libraries added, “We are delighted to support the new book trolley initiative at University Hospital Waterford’s Neonatal Unit. This meaningful initiative will foster a love of reading in both parents and babies and promote shared reading experiences while also promoting early literacy.

“This initiative is especially close to our hearts, highlighting the role of libraries in creating supportive environments for families. We hope the book trolley will provide comfort and inspire parents to bond with their babies. It’s a wonderful example of how libraries can serve as valuable resources for communities.

“Our Library service looks forward to continuing support for parents and babies who graduate from the Neonatal Unit, helping them maintain the journey of connection and learning as they move forward. We hope this initiative will inspire a lifelong love of reading and strengthen family bonds through storytelling.”

Sandra Kelly of Garter Lane Arts Centre was deeply passionate about exploring this initiative, driven by her own personal experiences and a heartfelt commitment to making a difference.

Sandra said, “Earlier in 2024, my little boy, Alex, spent six weeks in the NICU and SCUBU in Waterford after being transferred from Holles Street. During our brief stay in Dublin, we found solace in the beautifully illustrated books available in the parents’ room, which we read to Alex every day. These books became a source of comfort and connection in a time fraught with uncertainty and anxiety. Once we returned to Waterford, we continued this ritual, exploring a book of poetry together, focusing on one poem each day.

“As the Visual Arts and Education Manager at Garter Lane, I am deeply passionate about the transformative power of illustration and the written word. Inspired by our experience in the Neonatal Unit and the invaluable support we received, I felt compelled to give back.

“In my search for ways to make a difference, I connected with Breda O’Shea from Waterford Libraries, who, coincidentally, was exploring a similar initiative. Recognising the potential for collaboration, we eagerly joined forces. With the invaluable support of Jessica Griffin from Waterford Libraries as well as Waterford Healing Arts, we were thrilled to bring our vision to life. This project would not have been possible without the outstanding partnership of Waterford Libraries, Waterford Healing Arts, and the dedicated staff at the Neonatal Unit Waterford, whose commitment and support have been truly inspiring.”

Claire Meaney, Director of Waterford Healing Arts (part of Réalta) added, “We are delighted to be part of this invaluable collaboration with Waterford Libraries and Garter Lane Arts Centre. The book trolley for the Neonatal Unit fits perfectly with our aim to bring arts experiences to the bedsides of patients at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) and other healthcare settings to reduce anxiety and stress for patients, family members and staff, and to ‘soften’ the clinical environment. We look forward to continued partnership in this initiative and the many positive experiences this trolley will bring to families during their stay in the Neonatal Unit.”

This initiative reflects the profound impact of community support, the emotional comfort of reading, and the invaluable benefits of the book trolley in the Neonatal Unit. By providing families with access to carefully curated books, this initiative fosters connection, comfort, and moments of respite during a challenging time.