The following article is taken from the Cork City Council website,

Left to right front row: Director of Services R.A.C., Joe Kennelly, Lord Mayor Cllr. Michael Ahern, Joe Gavin, City Manager and Michael Conway Junior, Director, Frinailla Developments. Left to right back row: Liam Ronayne, City Librarian, Deborah G. Hegarty, Law Agent, Justin Fennell, Solicitor, P.J. O’Driscoll & Sons and Michael McDonagh, City Architect.

Frinailla Development’s proposal involves the building of the new library on part of the current library site extending into adjoining property. The proposed new library is state of the art. It will comprise of an area in excess of 6,200 sq. M, twice the size of the existing library.

The new Central Library will hold the largest collections of books, CDs, DVDs and other materials for children and adults in the city, the largest public library outside Dublin. The existing Central Library accounts for 61% of all items lent in the system, and ca 80% of all information enquiries; both of these figures will grow in the new building.

It will provide in-depth specialist collections in a number of areas

• The Children’s library, acting as an inclusive cultural centre for all the children of the city and region; 
• Information & Learning: Reference & Information resources, support for lifelong learning, the largest publicly accessible social sciences, science & technology, and history & human sciences resources in Munster, language learning for the ‘new Corkonians’; 
• Culture & the Imagination: the largest publicly accessible collections of literature and arts in Munster, along with space for exhibitions, talks, recitals & other performances, etc.; 
• The Rory Gallagher Music Library, Ireland’s leading public music library. 

The new Central Library will be at the heart of the cultural life of the city, offering accessible resources for creative expression. Detailed schematics of the proposed building were on display at the signing.

Left to right front row: Kevin Terry, Director of Services, Planning and Development, Joe Kennelly, Director of Services R.A.C., Lord Mayor Cllr. Michael Ahern, Joe Gavin, City Manager, Michael Conway Junior, Director, Frinailla Developments and Michael McDonagh, City Architect. Left to right back row: Ronnie McDowell, Senior Planner, Liam Ronayne, City Librarian, Fiona Kelly, Senior Executive Solicitor, Law Dept., Deborah G. Hegarty, Law Agent, Justin Fennell, Solicitor, P.J. O’Driscoll & Sons. Paul Butler, Michael Regan, and Lorenzo Cammoranesi from Reddy, O'Riordan Staehli Architects.