The James Joyce Library has been a place of learning, discovery and connection at the heart of the Belfield campus for almost five decades. The Library has been central to the experience of generations of UCD students, and although advances in technology have transformed how students access and engage with information, the physical space remains vitally important as a welcoming and inclusive place in which to study, collaborate and belong.

Today, the James Joyce Library is undergoing a transformation that will ensure it continues to serve the needs of students, researchers and the wider community for generations to come.

The €35 million, multiphase redevelopment of the Library is one of the most significant capital projects currently underway at UCD. Designed around the needs of a modern and growing university community, the reimagined space will offer a world-class learning environment while also giving pride of place to some of Ireland’s most important cultural treasures in a new, purpose-built Cultural Heritage Centre.

Enhancing the student experience

The first phase of redevelopment saw the transformation of Level 3 into a bright, welcoming and flexible learning environment that is inclusive and accessible. Students helped shape the design from the outset and continue to inform the next stages of the project, ensuring the Library evolves in response to the needs of its users.

With many students commuting long distances each day, the Library serves as a vital home away from home. As the first building to open in the morning and the last to close at night, it provides a safe base throughout the day, making students’ time on campus more productive and comfortable.

Preserving Ireland’s cultural heritage

A major milestone in the current phase of the project is the creation of the new UCD Cultural Heritage Centre. The Centre will bring together UCD Archives, UCD Special Collections and the National Folklore Collection in a dedicated environment designed to support preservation, research, teaching and public engagement.

Together, these collections tell the story of Ireland and its people. They include rare books dating back to the earliest days of printing, unique archives documenting the development of the modern Irish state, and internationally significant digital collections that preserve Ireland’s literary and cultural heritage.

The National Folklore Collection is one of the most important repositories of cultural memory anywhere in the world. Its foundational collection was inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register in recognition of its outstanding global significance, alongside treasures such as the Magna Carta, the Diary of Anne Frank and the Book of Kells. The collection will be relocated from facilities that are no longer fit for purpose into secure, environmentally controlled storage specifically designed to safeguard these invaluable and irreplaceable materials.

By opening the doors to these remarkable collections, UCD will create new opportunities for teaching, learning, research and public engagement. Students from every discipline will have greater access to original source materials, while visitors from Ireland and around the world will be able to explore stories that illuminate our shared history and cultural identity.