Collections

Stephen Brown Research and Reference Library

This, our main reading room, has sections on Christiology, the Old and New Testament, the Fathers of the Church, moral theology, literature (in particular that of Ireland, England, France, Italy and Spain), philosophy, Marian Studies, history, church music, and the religious orders. We offer 45 current periodical titles, from Ireland, the UK, France and the US, in which topical issues in the life of today's Church are discussed.

Art Library

This holds books which came to the Library from the Academy of Christian Art and other sources, to which was added a valuable donation of books on modern and non-European art by a member of the board of the Chester Beatty Library.

Irish Room

The Irish Room holds a large collection covering many aspects of Irish history, both religious and secular.

Carnegie Collection

This collection is on permanent loan from the Library Council of Ireland. The books cover the areas of philosophy, religion and sociology. They are shelved separately from the core collections, and contain many books dealing with non-Catholic traditions, including Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist and other denominational groups. There are also books on the non-Christian World religions, including Judaism, Buddhism and Islam.

Leo Room

The Leo Room holds the remnants of the collection of the Leo Guild (founded in May 1913), whose premises were destroyed by fire during the Civil War. Most of the Central Catholic Library’s books on sociology and politics are housed here.

Jerome Room

We hold a collection of approximately 1,200 books printed before 1850, with our earliest titles going back to the sixteenth century. Many of these are housed in the Jerome Room.

Kavanagh Room

This holds the collection of Bishop Kavanagh, which he donated to the Library. It also contains books left to the Library by the late Monsignor Stephen Greene.

Pamphlets

The Library holds a substantial collection of pamphlets, which are currently being processed. These include publications by the Catholic Truth Society of Ireland and the Irish Messenger Office, as well as statements issued in pamphlet form by the Irish bishops.