The Library of Trinity College Dublin

📖 At the beginning of the year, we shared Elizabeth Corbet Yeats’ bookplate (or, ex libris) alongside the original photoengraved printing block from which multiple prints were created ✨ Today, it’s time to highlight her sister’s, Susan Mary Yeats (aka Lily Yeats), bookplate and in doing so acknowledging Lily’s many talents as a key member of Cuala Industries and its success story as a female-strong enterprise.   Designed by Jack B. Yeats, Lily’s bookplate depicts an illustration of the Metal Man — a well-known navigation beacon found between Rosses Point and Oyster Island, Co. Sligo. If you’ve ever set eyes on the statue, you may notice a slight difference in the artistic depiction above 👀 The statue is of a Royal Navy Petty Officer, standing atop a 12-foot tower in coastal waters. If you were to see the Metal Man in person, you’ll find him perched atop the limestone plinth with his right arm outstretched, pointing in the direction of the safe channel. In Lily’s bookplate, however, he appears to be holding a small book with both hands (we love it see it!!) 📖 A recurring image and topic in paintings, drawings and poetry by the Yeats’, the Metal Man may have evoked cherished childhood memories across family members. Lily’s bookplate, though simply designed, truly evokes a sense of childhood imagination and wonder.  Speaking of wonder... we do wonder what the Metal Man might be reading? 📚 Find out more about the Cuala Press Project, kindly sponsored by the Schooner Foundation, by visiting our website (link in bio) #TCD #CualaPress #FemaleArtists #PrintingPress #SusanMaryYeats #LilyYeats #IrishArtists #ExLibris #Bookcraft #TCDResearchCollections

📚🌹new book displays on international workers day & Romanticism in the arts now live across all library sites 🌹📚

We’re kicking off the weekend with some vintage advertisements, and in doing so highlighting an endangered species to mark Sir David Attenborough’s 100th year on Earth & his love for our planet ✨🌎 🌊 🐦 🌳 🎈 Vintage adverts often feature eye-catching typography and illustrations. These two well-preserved printed examples were discovered a few pages apart in the first issue of the ‘Dublin Chamber of Commerce Year Book’ which was published more than 100 years ago, in 1913. The Irish Photo Engraving Co. advert offers a glimpse into the quality of work that the company’s talented team could potentially produce. Here we see a reproduction of a French artist’s work, of two Kagu birds. The Kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus) is regarded as one of the world’s most unique and mysterious bird species, being a flightless bird found only on the remote island of New Caledonia in the South Pacific. It’s believed there are less than 1,000 left roaming around the forests today, as pictured in this illustration. Throughout the 20th century, the Irish Photo Engraving Company worked closely with Cuala Industries and produced the majority of the photoengraved printing blocks which facilitated the creation of their handcrafted work. The Cuala Press advertisement (see third image) features an image of the Cuala cottage and its gardens, in Churchtown, Dundrum, Co. Dublin, set against a cloud-filled sky. Helpful information, including visiting hours and how to get there, appears around the illustration ☁️ These printed adverts open up a moment in time, mirroring both the economic and the creative landscape of early 1900’s Dublin and the fruitful relationships that existed between a close-knit community of craftspeople. #CualaPressProject #CualaPress #vintageadverts #endangeredspecies #davidattenborough

The Library of Trinity College Dublin is seeking an experienced #Archivist to work on the archive of the war correspondent and author Robert Fisk. This hugely significant archival project marks a move towards hybrid collecting practice, and collecting the now. We need someone who can work across analogue and digital material, coordinating within a matrix of professionals in the wider team, and who is experienced in project management. Knowledge of historic events of the mid-late twentieth century and up to the present day, along with reading coherence of Arabic would be of benefit. Search "Project Archivist" on https://lnkd.in/epe82VKC to apply. Closing date 12:00, 27th May 2026. #TrinityCollegeDublin #TCDLibrary #SpecialCollections

Our current exhibition “Character is better than wealth: the enduring legacy of Michael Davitt” will be featured on @rteone ’s Nationwide on Wednesday, May 6th at 7pm 📺 Join curator Ciara Daly, Director of @trinitylongroomhub Professor Patrick Geoghegan, and members of the Davitt family as they explore the remarkable legacy of Michael Davitt ✨ #VirtualTrinityLibrary #michaeldavitt

📚A small announcement for all students and staff about changes to opening hours for both the Library Complex and the Hamilton Library as we enter the summer period 📚 - Library Complex and Hamilton summer opening hours: 9.30am-5pm Mon - Fri / 09.30am-1pm Sat. - John Stearne remaining open until 8pm Mon-Fri. - Full details on our website: www.tcd.ie/library/opening-hours/

✨Well done to all of our students at the end of the first week of exams ✨ - and best of luck for the remainder! If you're feeling the stress 😰 , visit the Library to borrow books from our Exam Skills & Wellbeing displays, or find a spot by a window to enjoy the sunshine and the views of our lovely campus. 🌻🌞

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” — William Shakespeare ✨ We’re celebrating William Shakespeare today in honour of his 462nd birthday 🎉 Did you know that we are home to the only copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio in Ireland? 🎭 Well now you do, and you can take a look at our digitised copy through the link in our bio! #williamshakespeare

The beginning of Summer is in the air and this is your reminder, earthlings, to take a moment to stop and smell the flowers on this sun-filled Earth Day ✨ 🌏 This small-scale, highly detailed photoengraved printing block (second image) is part of the Cuala Press Object Collection. This little block was once used upon an Albion Press to create the desired design for a privately commissioned greeting card. Set within a circular frame, these delicately executed flowers and chosen colours are quite fitting for the day that’s in it 💚 🌎 🩵 Check out the colourful digitised version of the print, which was produced from this very block, in more detail via the link in our bio. Happy midweek! 🌼 #EarthDay #CualaPressProject #CualaPress #femaleartists #printinghistory

This manuscript written in the Maghrebi hand comes out of a pre‑Islamic tradition of calculating time and predicting monthly meteorological conditions based on the positions of stars and lunar mansions. These celestial forecasts didn’t stop at weather—they also offered advice on agriculture and people’s fortunes! In this folio, the scribe represents the lunar mansions al‑Natḥ (“the Two Signs” or “Horns”) and al‑Ġhafr (“the Covering”) using these designs of red dots. The text also includes rhyming proverbs to help readers memorize the shifting seasons. One prediction tells us: “On April 19th, if Cancer [i.e., al‑Natḥ] appears, people come from all around; some say that if Cancer rises, day and nighttime become equal, lands grow greener, and neighbours make treaties.” So, this April 19th—follow medieval wisdom and make a treaty with your neighbour and enjoy the budding spring! 🌱 TCD MS 1546, fol. 27v #VirtualTrinityLibrary #ManuscriptoftheMonth #Arabic&IslamicManuscriptsProject

🔬🧬another reminder for all students: the Hamilton Library is now open as a 24 hour study space until April 30th 🧪🔭

One of the highlights of Green Week was the talk about Shifting Baselines - Changing attitudes toward nature through the lens of Trinity's collections. Helen Shenton, the Librarian and College Archivist, gave the welcome address, drawing on the extraordinary natural history holdings of the Library's Fagel Collection as well as specimens from the Herbarium of Botany. Contributions from Trinity Sustainability and experts from around Ireland brought historical perspectives into dialogue with contemporary sustainability challenges. The panel discussed how our understanding of nature changed over time and what have we come to accept as “normal”. They discussed the concept of shifting baselines: the idea that each generation inherits a diminished view of biodiversity and ecological abundance without realising what has been lost. Speakers and panellists included Jane Stout, Peter Moonlight (Botany) and Joel Nankivell (the Library) with a panel chaired by Biodiversity Officer Collie Ennis with guests Dr Maria Long (Grassland Specialist, National Parks & Wildlife Service), Paolo Viscardi (Keeper of Natural History, National Museum of Ireland) and Siobhan McDonald (Artist in Residence, TCD Natural Sciences). Bringing together science, cultural heritage, policy and artistic perspectives, this event caused us to reflect on how we define environmental “normal”, and how recovering richer baselines might shape a more sustainable future. During the discussion, Paolo Viscardi spoke about not being able to reclaim or recreate the same conditions as the past, but being able to use what we have learned to inform a better future. Thanks to all who attended and took part in such a meaningful discussion. The Library's Fagel Collection can be accessed through the Virtual Trinity Library by following the link in bio. #ShiftingBaselines #Biodiversity #Environment #ClimateChange