Our Libraries
The libraries at the MIC Limerick and Thurles campuses are a hive of activity during the academic year with students studying, researching and using the multiple resources available to them. Library staff members provide training throughout the year and are on hand at all times to assist with borrowing and other queries.
MIC Limerick Library
The library at Mary Immaculate College's main campus in Limerick has over 150,000 books housed in its main building and stores and subscribes to approximately 300 journals. Users can access over 30,000 online journals and over 100 online databases—available via the college network and externally to registered users via the Internet. The Audio-Visual library on the first floor has a large collection of DVDs and newspapers on microfilm as well as materials to support primary school teaching practice.
Services available include book loans, inter-library loans, help and advice with our print and electronic collections and information skills training. Users may consult the Library Catalogue via the public access PCs in the library itself or through the internet from any electronic device.
All MIC users have access to the library services and resources of the University of Limerick Library.
MIC Thurles Library
The O’Dwyer library is the main student library on the Thurles campus. It has approximately 15,000 print resources, including an extensive journal collection. The collection’s main focus is on the core subjects taught in Thurles—Religion, Education, Irish and Business. The Teaching Resources collection which consists of second level textbooks to assist students in lesson planning is also on site. There is also a collection of DVDs and CDs which students can use for lessons or their own study. Students have access to both ebooks and online journals through our electronic resources.
The library provides a number of services for students at MIC, St Patrick’s Campus. The librarian offers free, one-to-one tutorials to students on academic writing, referencing and plagiarism. The library also offers information skills training, help and advice on electronic resources, book lending and inter-library loans.
The Croke Library houses the campus's historical collection and consists of approximately 5,000 print books. The main focus of the Collection is church history and theology along with local diocesan history. Access to the Croke Library resources is by appointment only for researchers and books are not permitted to be loaned out.
New Library & Learning Resource Centre
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) continues to review, in conjunction with the Department of Education & Skills, MIC’s request for funding to build a new library at the MIC Limerick Campus. The value of the project is estimated at €24.55m (Turner & Townsend) at November 2018 rates with the HEA advised that the College will contribute 10% to the overall project value. The HEA advises that the project is under active consideration and Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD has acknowledged that the project is at an advanced stage of appraisal (November 2018).
Once confirmed the building of a new Library/Learning Resource Centre is likely to take two years and see the construction of a 5,000 sq m building at the heart of the main campus with approx. 675 formal and informal reading spaces provided within. Planning permission has been granted for the project. See a fly-through video with the Scott Tallon Walker Architects design to your left.
