From The Library Project to the PhotoIreland Collection

We imagined a library dedicated to Photography and Image Culture with unique, contemporary publications from all over the world, for you to enjoy.

From 2018, the collection is transforming and will benefit you with a broader scope. Presented as The PhotoIreland Collection, it will now host artworks by Irish and international artists, making these available to national and international organisations.

The PhotoIreland Collection started its life as ‘The Library Project‘ in 2011, aiming to bring to Irish audiences a collection of publications around Photography, complementing those of the public and university libraries, and building the core of a public resource library. To date, it holds approximately over 2000 items from more than 200 publishers worldwide.

Imagine a library dedicated to Photography and Image Culture with unique, contemporary publications from all over the world, free for you to enjoy.

Initiated in 2011 by Claudi Nir and Ángel Luis González Fernández, The Library Project set out to offer the public an on-going collection of the latest photobooks, magazines and zines, whether produced by publishing houses or self-published.

In 2012, the collection was expanded with the efforts of Arcangela Regis. Then, Claudi Nir, Alison Baker Kerrigan, and Svetlana Zabelka started cataloguing the items. In 2013, with the support and passion of Steven Maybury, Katie Mooney-Sheppard, Gill Thorpe, Sinéad Corcoran, and Lorna Murphy, the collection kept expanding, it was catalogued, and was finally made available online.

The curated selection holds already a respectable number of titles, and welcomes everyone, both individuals and organisations, to contribute to and enjoy this unique public resource library. This website offers an online catalogue with most of the items in the collection being constantly updated.

Visiting the PhotoIreland Collection

Group Visits: To book an appointment, please email tlp@photoireland.org or alternatively you can use the contact form.

Research: If you are conducting research on a particular subject, we can facilitate access at specific hours and provide further guidance. Contact us to arrange a visit, or to consult about any of the materials in the collection.

Exhibition & Research Loans: While The Library Project is a resource library and it does not loan items regularly, temporary loans could be arranged if they are considered part of a genuine research project, or for specific exhibitions. Let us know what we can help you with and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Support The Library Project

Right in the heart of Dublin, The Library Project offers a free and friendly environment in which to access, discover, study, research and take pleasure in a growing collection of contemporary publications. It is a space to share ideas openly, to discuss and learn. If you have enjoyed it, you share the passion, or you wish to help keeping such a great resource open, why not support it?

No matter how big or small, your contribution will help us maintain The Library Project open and deliver a variety of events throughout the year, contributing to a vibrant Irish cultural life.

Donating to the Collection

We welcome permanent donations that may enhance the extent of  the collection, whether from organisations, publishers or individuals interested in supporting our endeavours. If you are interested in sharing your photobooks, magazines, fanzines, resource books, catalogues, and prints, contact us to discuss, or alternatively you could use the submission form, particluarly for publications.