Linen Hall Library

"A library is a place of safety. A haven from the world."
https://bit.ly/2oMbsCn

The Linen Hall has a cafe with the best views over Donegall Square. Food is fresh, local produce prepared daily. Come on in!

Harpist Derek Bell, who played with traditional Irish band The Chieftains, was renowned for his impish sense of humour. Among his letters held in the Linen Hall archives is the one pictured, in which he used the bass and treble clefs to sign off a note to his younger sister.

Get a sense of the wonder of Belfast's Linen Hall Library with our new video featured on our redesigned website www.linenhall.com.
https://youtu.be/r5ikvfeJFx0

Girl Power! Today the Linen Hall launched 'Objects, History & Me', an exhibition that explores the experiences of a group of young women living in a post-conflict society. Runs until 30 September.

A brass plague has been placed at the Library's Irish & Local Studies Department on the 4th floor in recognition of local historian and ex-Governor, the late Fred Heatley. A large number of books and pamphlets from Mr Heatley’s personal collection were kindly donated to the Library including many rare titles and items of local interest previously not available. Staff were delighted to welcome members of the Heatley family (pictured) when they visited recently to view the plague in situ.

"Libraries are being disparaged and neglected at precisely the moment when they are most valued and necessary."
Thoughts on the state of the public library system in the USA.
https://www.nytimes.com/…/opinion/sunda y/civil-society-libr…

"Women have consistently been excluded from history, only coming to prominence during the feminist movement of the 1960s." (from 'Objects, History & Me' exhibition booklet.)
Starting at the Linen Hall Friday 14 September is 'Objects, History & Me', an exhibition that explores the experiences of a group of women living in a post-conflict society. Funded by The Pilgrim Trust, the project aims to inspire and empower young women, provide access to public space and equip them with new skills.

Ever heard of the Future Library? It's the most secret library in the world.
https://www.theguardian.com/…/han-kang- bury-book-100-years-…

"Right in the city centre but tucked away upstairs this was a tremendous find for delicious coffee and cakes..."
Our latest 5-star review. Come up and hide away from the madding crowd...
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserRev iews-g186470-d1900…

Saturday is #ehodni. The Library will be giving free tours at 11am and 1pm. Just show up! And at noon there's a free lecture on 'The Story of the Donegal Spitfire' with author Jonny McNee.

Research shows that reading for pleasure can reduce the symptoms of depression, build empathy and help us build relationships with others.Today is #ReadaBookDay, so come on in and pick from one of our hundreds of thousands of titles - and get happy!

Look what was amongst a recent donation of framed pictures of Belfast! The historic Bank Buildings which was the location of a huge fire last week. Here it is circa 1900 in all of its former glory.

The Library has been kindly donated the back catalogue and archive of the Word of Mouth Poetry Collective (WOM), a women's poetry workshop that met monthly at the Linen Hall from 1991 to its dissolution in 2016.
The archive includes the papers of the late poet Ann Zell (pictured).

Continuing our highlights of the Linen Hall's McCready archive...
In 1934 copies of the limited first edition of TE Lawrence's 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom' were selling for £750! Book collector McCready wrote to Lawrence suggesting an unlimited edition accessible to the general public. The Linen Hall copy (pictured) is one of the public editions that resulted.