Researching in the National Library, Dublin
Wherein the setting is the main character
Reading room of the National Library
The final stop on my research trip—and the last of these installments—was the National Library in Dublin (then I’ll start talking about actual historical research content).
Like the National Archives, the library limits readers to six items a day that must be requested in advanced. Lots of planning must occur to make a trip to the library useful.
The above photo is the main reading room of the National Library. Anyone can walk into the foyer, it’s lovely, too, but if you want to see the reading room, you must get a reader’s ticket. The good news is that you can walk in and request one (or register in advance) but even if you have registered, you must get the physical card, a photo that’s printed on the card, and answer some questions that demonstrate that you are there to do actual research. It is worth the hassle to have a peek into the reading room. This is what I dream of when I dream of a library.
A brief video of the architecture I took while waiting on materials.
I worked in the main reading room one day because all the materials viewed there are books—secondary sources—and I was interested in the manuscripts, which are available next door in a nice but not as attractive space. Still, once my nose is in a document or diary, I mostly forget about the space around me.
Diary c. 1880
And my nose was in lots of diaries. I found quite a few related to women and travel, which is another area of interest for me. Going through the photos, I can’t wait to get back into this material and begin processing it. I’m so excited by the prospects.
Inside page spread of a diary
Like the archives, you must plan in advance and the best way to do that is to go through their online portal AND to email a librarian and tell them what you are interested in and find out what resources they recommend that you view. Librarians are the only humans with actual superpowers. Make use of them1
For those wondering what the heck I’m doing if not going through all these materials. . . . I’m working with a client to write his memoir. He was the studio assistant for Jasper Johns for twenty-seven years and was arrested for art theft. I should have a proposal ready in another week or two to begin sending out to agents. We are hoping to have the book written and published in the next couple of years.
But after the proposal is finished and sent out, I’m back to this Irish stuff.