James Wilkinson Cork City Librarian 1892-1932

Book launch and talk with Mairéad Mooney.

James Wilkinson was and still is, to date, the longest-serving librarian of Cork City’s public libraries. Appointed in October 1892, he held the post of librarian for a forty-year tenure. James Wilkinson established the city’s public library service and was pioneering in developing children’s library provision in Ireland. This period coincided with seismic social and political changes in Ireland. As a Protestant Englishman in post-independence Ireland, Wilkinson had to navigate challenging times, including moral panics about reading and nationalism, especially around publications for children and young people. Mairéad Mooney’s book looks back at the career of James Wilkinson and his contribution to library services for the citizens of this city.