Library Words

Alan Phelan, 2018

Location: Kevin Street Library

Library Words by Alan Phelan was a visual art commission for Kevin’s Street Library.

The wall texts in the front and rear rooms were installed after the renovations of the building in 2018. The texts are quotes about libraries gathered by the artist and through contact with library staff. The art work picks up on the colours of inks used in book printing – CMYK – cyan, magenta, yellow, and black for the front room and on the colours used for digital screens – RGB – red, green, and blue.

“When in doubt go to the library”
JK Rowling
“Paradise will be a kind of library”
Jorge Luis Borges
“My archive is a library of longings”
Susan Sontag
“A library is a hospital for the mind”
Anonymous
(Alan Phelan’s choices)
“A library is the delivery room for the birth of ideas a place where history comes to life” President Michael D Higgins
(Jackie Lynam, Librarian, UNESCO City of Literature Office)
“The truth is libraries are raucous clubhouses for free speech controversy and community” Paula Poundstone
(Angela Cassidy, Divisional Librarian, City Library Project)
“I consider the public library to be along with language and chocolate one of humankinds greatest inventions” John Banville
(via email to Cathy Mc Kenna, senior librarian, The International Dublin Literary Award)

Funding was provided though the library capital budget under the Per Cent for Art Scheme.