Access
Newspapers may be consulted in hardcopy format in the Main Reading Room or on microfilm in the Microfilm Reading Room. However, newspapers cannot be issued until they have been bound or microfilmed which means, in practice that the most recent issues of current titles are not available to readers for consultation. Online newspaper resources, including The Irish Times Digital Archive and The Times Digital Archive, are also available to readers using the Library in person. Please refer to Digital Library for further information.
The National Library of Ireland acts as a library of record for both present and future generations. Newspapers are an inherently fragile medium and for preservation reasons some titles are not available for public viewing in their original format; but are available on microfilm. Additionally, some newspapers are stored off-site and are subject to a delay in retrieval. These are listed in the Newspaper Index with the location noted as ‘Hardcopy O.S.S’.
A reader’s ticket is not required to view newspapers.
Copying
Newspapers (Hardcopy)
For preservation reasons, photocopying of newspapers is not permitted in the Library. Hardcopy newspapers can however be photographed on request. Please refer to Copying Services for further information.
Newspapers (microfilm)
Self-Service reader printers are available for printing from newspapers on microfilm. Please refer to Copying Services for further information.
Newspapers (Online)
Self-Service printing of individual pages from online sources is available. Please refer to Copying Services for further information.
Microfilms for sale
The National Library has a limited range of Irish newspapers on microfilm for sale. For more information, see the Newspapers on Microfilm page.