In 2015 the CONUL Collections, Preservation & Conservation Sub-Committee began a survey of Unique and Distinct Collections across the CONUL Libraries, with the aim to identify the size of the UDC’s, their age ranges, their accessibility via records and digital surrogate, and their preservation need. With this data we hope to promote the cultural and scholarly value of the collections, and to open discussion about collaborative work packages. Synergies, complementarity and overlaps run through all our libraries where collectively we tell the story of Ireland, its history, its people, and their preoccupations. This paper will present some of the highlights from our survey which we hope will lead to joint projects to expose our rich and valuable resources in new and innovative ways, and provide for their continued preservation.

1. Gathered Together: A Survey of the Unique &
Distinct Collections Held by CONUL
Susie Bioletti | Keeper, Preservation & Conservation | Trinity College Dublin
Felicity O’Mahony | Assistant Librarian MAR&L | Trinity College Dublin
Elaine Harrington | Special Collections Librarian | University College
CONUL – Going Further Together: Collaboration in Irish Academic & Research Libraries
1 June 2016

2. Collections, Preservation
& Conservation
Gathered Together
• Sub-committee on Collections, Preservation &
Conservation
• 2013-2016 strategic work plan
• Identifying UDC’s; their accessibility, condition,
preservation and other needs
• Promote collaborative work packages
• Siobhan Fitzpatrick (Mentor) Susie Bioletti (Chair), Eoin
McCarney, Evelyn Flanagan, Elaine Harrington, John
Cremin, Ann McSweeney, Mary O’Doherty, Ursula
Mitchel, Frank Reynolds

3. Collections, Preservation
& Conservation
Gathered Together
• Survey completed June 2014 – May 2016
• 12 libraries
• 20 participants: Philip Cohen, Ursula Mitchel, Mary
O’Doherty, Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Colette O’Flaherty, Marie
Boran, Hugh Murphy, Audrey Kinch, Susan Durack, Clara
Joyce, Estelle Gittins, Helen McGinley, Paul Ferguson,
Ray Stanley, John Cremin, Elaine Harrington, Emer
twomey, Evelyn Flanagan, Evelyn McAuley, Frank
Reynolds
• 593 named unique and distinct collections

4. Collections, Preservation
& Conservation
Gathered Together
• Date from the 3rd millennium BC
• Over 10,415,386 items
• 5,200,000 photographic items
• 632,227 maps
• Over 3,403,038 volumes
• 160,353 drawings, watercolours
• 8.5 kilometers other items
• 50 skulls, 1700 medical instruments,130 silverware
• Harps, guns, flags, medals, death masks, furnishings, jewellry

5. Collections, Preservation
& Conservation
Gathered Together
• Lets do more …
• Identify collaborate projects that re/connect collections.
• Explore synergies and use these to highlight significance
• Identify and reduce greatest risks to collection preservation
• Joint grant funding opportunities – collection surrogates,
improved access and greater exposure for CONUL
• Advocate for conservation and improved storage
• Why? Because our collections are worth it

6. Collections, Preservation
& Conservation
Types of Collections
• English Literary Collections
• Irish Language
 Manuscripts
 Individuals / Companies
• Cultural
 Music
 Theatre
 Estates
 Science & Business

7. Irish Language - Manuscripts
https://www.isos.dias.ie/
https://www.ucc.ie/en/modern-irish/olongain-conference/

8. Irish Language – Individuals / Companies
Ó Criomhthain, Tomás.
Allagar na hInise. 1928.
Ó Neill, Séamus. Tonn
Tuile. 1947.
Duilearga Collection. 1920.

9. English Literary Collections
Brendan Kennelly & Robert
Ballagh. The Great Book of
Ireland. f35
PP/4/1 (1) Letter
from Sean O'Faolain to
Munira Hamud
Mutran, São Paulo,
Brazil, re: Irish writing
17 February 1973.
Ringling-North

10. Inscription from James
Stephens to his wife in
Strict Joy: Poems.
English Literary Collections
Hearn, Lafacadio. The Boy Who Drew
Cats.

11. Music
UCC Goodman MS 196 p.72 Tunes
for Francis & Thos Godfrey
Goodman Collection: TCD MS 3194
Special Collections, Queen’s
University Belfast, Bunting
Collection, QUB MS 4/30/20,
‘Starrae er whoola Gaurdin or the
land behind the garden,’ 1792.

12. Theatre & Broadcasting
National Dance Archive of
Ireland N25_1
PP/6/51 Teresa
Deevy - Detail
from Abbey
Theatre
Souvenir
programme
Aug 1938

13. Estates
House of the Earl of Dunraven at
Adare, D/3196
Bantry House and gardens c.
early 20th century
PP/13/3/8 Marriage Settlement from
the papers of the Borrowes family of
Giltown, Co. Kildare. 4 Dec 1783.
Special Collections, Queen’s
University Belfast, Robert Hart
Collection, QUB MS 15/6/5/1

14. Science & Business
‘Scientists, including Cynthia
Longfield (2nd from left), from the
St George expedition posing with
their equipment. RIA, LRC/25, p2.
Robert Lloyd Praeger

45. Collections, Preservation
& Conservation
Slide Credits
Slide 7
• Irish Script on Screen: https://www.isos.dias.ie/
• Ó Longáin Conference: https://www.ucc.ie/en/modern-irish/olongain-conference/
Slide 8
• Special Collections, NUIG, Duilearga Collection: Irische Dollsmarchen, 1920.
• TCD Early Printed Books, Sáirséal agus Dill Collection: Ó Neill, Séamus. Tonn Tuile. Baile Átha Cliath:
Sáirséal agus Dill, 1947. S & D 1:3.
• Special Collections, UCC Library, Torna Collection: Ó Criomhthain, Tomás. Allagar na hInise. Baile Átha
Cliath : Ó Fallamhain i gcomhar le hOifig an tSoláthair, 1928.
Slide 9
• Special Collections, NUIG, Ringling-North Collection.
• Maynooth University PP/4/1 (1) Letter from Sean O'Faolain to Munira Hamud Mutran, São Paulo, Brazil, re:
Irish writing 17 February 1973.
• Special Collections, UCC Library. The Great Book of Ireland. f35.
Slide 10
• Special Collections, NUIG, Hearn Collection: Hearn, Lafacadio. The Boy Who Drew Cats.
• TCD Early Printed Books, James Stephens Collection: Stephens, James. Strict Joy: Poems. [London]:
Macmillan, 1931. OLS L-7-20.

46. Collections, Preservation
& Conservation
Slide Credits
Slide 11
• Special Collections, Queen’s University Belfast, Bunting Collection, QUB MS 4/30/20, ‘Starrae er whoola
Gaurdin or the land behind the garden,’ 1792.
• Special Collections, UCC Library: MS 196 ‘Tunes for Francis George & Thos Godfrey’ p.72
• TCD Music, Goodman Collection: TCD MS 3194 and portrait of Fr. James Goodman
Slide 12
• Maynooth University PP/6/51 Teresa Deevy - Detail from Abbey Theatre Souvenir programme Aug 1938
• Glucksman Library, UL, National Dance Archive of Ireland N25_1
Slide 13
• Glucksman Library, UL, D/3196 House of the Earl of Dunraven at Adare,
• Special Collections, Queen’s University Belfast, Robert Hart Collection, QUB MS 15/6/5/1
• Archives Service, UCC Library, Bantry House and gardens c. early 20th century
• PP/13/3/8 Marriage Settlement from the papers of the Borrowes family of Giltown, Co. Kildare. 4 Dec 1783.
(John Paul II Library, Maynooth University)
Slide 14
• Royal Irish Academy, Robert Lloyd Praeger (RIA).
• Royal Irish Academy, Longfield Roberts Collection: ‘Scientists, including Cynthia Longfield (2nd from left), from
the St George expedition posing with their equipment. RIA, LRC/25, p2.

47. Collections, Preservation
& Conservation
Thank you!
Gathered Together: A Survey of the Unique & Distinct
Collections Held by CONUL
Susie Bioletti | Keeper, Preservation & Conservation | Trinity College Dublin
bioletts@tcd.ie | @bioletts
Elaine Harrington | Special Collections Librarian | University College Cork
e.harrington@ucc.ie | @walkerabroad
Felicity O’Mahony | Assistant Librarian MAR&L | Trinity College Dublin
FOMAHONY@tcd.ie