The funds will be distributed to assist libraries in providing support to communities at risk of being socially excluded, marginalised or disadvantaged.

All 20 of the most borrowed books were titles aimed at children with the Harry Potter series still proving hugely popular.

Library users will no longer be required to pay fines on overdue books.

Library fines are set to be abolished to encourage more people to use the facilities.

From the library service — with more than 330 branch libraries and 31 of the mobile variety — comes news that should be celebrated in homes and schools across the country. Its report on borrowings for last year show that most of the top 20 borrowed books were titles for children.

Staffless libraries could soon be introduced in Cork county, despite reservations by some elected representatives.

Councillors have called for staffing changes to bridge a gap in library openings that see all three of Cork’s northside branches close for lunch.