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- Spanish-language libraries: collections and services. Instituto Cervantes at Dublin
DÁMASO ALONSO LIBRARY SERVICES
Access to the library and consultation of the collections is free and open to everyone. In the reading room, visitors can study and access the Internet (Wi-Fi), as well as consult the library catalogue and collections, including films and periodicals.
To borrow materials from the library, listen to or download audiobooks, or access electronic resources, users must have a library membership card.
The library provides an information service for any enquiries related to the language and culture of Spain and Latin America.
The international interlibrary loan service allows users to access documents held in the collections of other Spanish libraries.
Schools and groups interested in visiting the library and our other facilities and exhibitions can arrange guided tours by appointment by contacting us at bibdub@cervantes.es
Borrowing Service
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General public: €35 per year (€25 for six months).
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Full-time students, former Instituto Cervantes students, teachers, retired people, and unemployed users: €25 per year (€15 for six months).
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Electronic Library users: €20 per year.
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Books and magazines: Maximum of 7 items for 3 weeks. Renewable for an additional 3 weeks if there are no reservations.
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DVDs: Maximum of 3 items for 3 weeks. Not renewable.
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Full access to the Electronic Library and online resources.
- Books and magazines can be renewed once for the same loan period (three weeks), provided that the item has not been reserved by another user.
- DVDs cannot be renewed.
- Renewals and reservations can be made through your user account (online catalogue), at the library, or by email: bibdub@cervantes.es.
- Only documents currently on loan to another user can be reserved.
- Each user may place a maximum of 3 reservations.
- Once a reserved document has been returned to the library, a member of staff will contact the user to let them know it is available.
Are the library opening hours not convenient for you? No problem!
Enjoy the flexibility of collecting your loans at a time that suits you better.
You can now request your loans in advance and collect them conveniently from the reception desk of our centre on the second floor. Simply send an email to bibdub@cervantes.es and we will prepare your loans for collection at your convenience during the following hours:
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Monday to Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
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Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
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Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
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Go to the library catalogue. It will open in a new window. If it does not, please enable pop-ups in your browser settings.
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In the right-hand column of the screen, enter your library membership number (1810...) and your password.
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Click “Log in”.
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Click “My Library”.
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In your library welcome email, you will find your user number (67...) at the top.
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If you do not have a password or have forgotten it, please contact the library by phone (01 631 15 15) or email (bibdub@cervantes.es).
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Access your user account (see previous section).
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Select the titles you wish to extend and confirm by clicking “Renew”.
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Please note: if the item has been reserved by another reader or the loan period has expired, you will not be able to renew it. Books and CDs can only be renewed once. Videos and DVDs cannot be renewed.
Discover all the services that the Dámaso Alonso Library at the Instituto Cervantes Dublin has prepared for you
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will do our best to answer any enquiries related to Spain and Latin America. To do so, we can use our own resources (specialised staff, databases, and library collections) as well as external sources (the internet and other information centres).
Enquiries can be made in person at the library, by post, or by email.
The interlibrary loan and document supply services allow library users to consult or borrow materials, or receive copies of documents from Spanish libraries or from any of the Instituto Cervantes libraries around the world.
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For further information, please contact the library by email at bibdub@cervantes.es.
We follow the recommendations of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), which include the following general guidelines:
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This service is available to any user who holds a library membership card.
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Users must declare that the requested document is required for research or study purposes.
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The loan period will be determined by the lending library; in most cases, it is one month.
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Both the service costs (fees) and loan conditions (number of documents requested, photocopies, etc.) will be those established by the library providing the documents.
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If the loan is made from outside the Instituto Cervantes Library Network (RBIC), the applicant will be responsible for any shipping and return costs.
Institutions and teachers (both Spanish teachers and teachers of other subjects) can request guided tours for groups of students and colleagues around the library facilities and the rest of the Instituto Cervantes premises.
The format and content of the visit will be adapted, whenever possible, to the needs and interests of the visiting group.
Tel: 01 631 15 33
Email: cult1dub@cervantes.es
The reading room offers free Wi-Fi Internet access for all users who wish to work using their own laptops.
It is also possible to access the Internet using the library computers. Please take into account the following access conditions.
Access Conditions
- Internet access is a free service for library members.
- Computers provided for Internet access may only be used for information searches, research, and learning purposes.
- The service does not include access to email, news groups, chat rooms, or games.
- The equipment and software installed on the computers must be used as configured. Users may not add, delete, or modify any settings on the library computers.
- Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
- The library is not responsible for the information accessed by users.
- Users are required to read any copyright information that may appear in their search results. Some Internet materials may be protected by copyright law.
- Library staff reserve the right to terminate an Internet session if they consider that the conditions outlined above are not being followed.
Would you like to find someone to practise your Spanish with? Do you want to improve your English?
Come to the library! Every month we organise meetings between Spanish and English speakers to practise both languages and enjoy conversation.
The sessions will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the following dates:
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Upcoming dates will be published in September 2026
Important information:
- Registration is required in advance.
- Places are limited.
- To book your place, please send an email to bibdub@cervantes.es, indicating your native language and the level of the language you wish to improve.
- Participants will receive confirmation of their place for each session.
CervantesForKids
The CervantesForKids section is one of the most important collections in the Instituto Cervantes Library in Dublin. We are proud of this collection, and our aim is to encourage creative learning through a wide range of resources.
The library offers a selection of recommended reading, organised by language level. Our aim is to help you discover literary works that are not only appropriate for your level of Spanish but also enrich your reading experience and deepen your understanding of Spanish and Latin American cultures.
Our recommendations include books available in a variety of formats—printed books, e-books, and audiobooks—so you can choose the one that best suits your preferences and needs.
Click on the appropriate level to access the reading guides:
We are also committed to building a collaborative reading community. We invite you to contribute to our selection by sharing your own recommendations for books in Spanish. If you have read a book that you think other library users would enjoy, we would love to hear from you.
You can send your suggestions to biblioteca@cervantes.es.
Explore, enjoy, and fall in love with Spanish-language literature through our reading guides.
Practise your Spanish at the Dámaso Alonso Library of the Instituto Cervantes Dublin!
In September, we will publish the new dates for the 2026 Conversation Exchanges.
