Little-known to the general public, the Gilbert Library contains the large number of manuscripts, books and other printed material collected by Sir John Gilbert, who published a history of Dublin between 1854 and 1859. Among its most notable features are early Dublin newspapers, 18th century bookbindings, Irish almanacks and Dublin directories from 1761 to 1849.
The Gilbert Library is kept in Pearse Street along with a number of other collections including the Dix Collection of 17th and 18th century books and pamphlets; material relating to W.B. Yeats; 90,000 books and other works relating to Ireland by Irish authors or in the Irish language; and a large collection of Irish newspapers and periodicals from the 18th century to the present. All of this material is to remain in Pearse Street when the library building there has been refurbished. It will be joined by the city archives from City Hall.
The records of municipal government in Dublin for eight centuries, they include a series of parchment assembly rolls recording the minutes of the Dublin City Assembly (a forerunner of the city council) from 1447 to 1841; a series of more than 100 charters granted to Dublin from 1171/72 onwards; material relating to the Wide Streets Commission from its establishment in 1757 to its abolition almost 90 years later; and records of urban district councils.
Much of the archive's contents have never been properly catalogued or made fully available to the public but Ms Deirdre Ellis-King says this will not be the case when the material is in its new home.