Pathways scheme to facilitate access to previously restricted library books

MEMBERS of any of Cork’s eight libraries can access millions of books and other resources in the other facilities in the city and county under the first scheme of its kind in the country.

The Pathways to Learning (PAL) initiative opens up the previously restricted sharing of books, archives and other collections held in libraries operated by local authorities, third level colleges and hospitals. It will mean that, by prior arrangement organised between libraries, a user of one service can arrange to visit another library to read or view books or other parts of its collection not currently available to them.

The creation of a new PAL card will facilitate access to all collections at Cork City Library, Cork County Library, Cork Institute of Technology, University College Cork, Cork University Hospital, Mercy University Hospital and South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital.