National Collection of Northern Ireland Publications

The National Collection of Northern Ireland Publications is an ongoing collection of books, journals, pamphlets, and reports published in Northern Ireland.

As Northern Ireland has no National Library, no local institution is legally responsible for collecting all material published in Northern Ireland. Prior to the creation of the National Collection of Northern Ireland Publications, there was no reliable way of finding out what was published in Northern Ireland, who was collecting it, and where it was held.

Launched in 2000 as the Northern Ireland Publications Resource (NIPR), with the aim of collecting every book, pamphlet, journal and periodical published in Northern Ireland since January 2000, preserving them for posterity, and making them available for consultation by the public, the National Collection of Northern Ireland Publications is a living collection of local publishing excellence.

After sterling work in establishing and building the Collection, consequent to reduced and finally withdrawn funding, NIPR as organisation ceased to exist from August 2023, but the National Collection of Northern Ireland Publications as an entity continues.

Having been lead partner with NIPR, and their trusted repository, the preservation and development of the unique Collection was passed to the care and sole responsibility of The Linen Hall. The Linen Hall is now collecting and preserving the collection, and continuing to make it accessible.

Voluntary Donations

The Collection depends on voluntary donations of material by local writers, publishers, and organisations. One copy of every item published in Northern Ireland is requested for the repository to ensure that it is preserved for posterity.

A local publication is defined as anything published in Northern Ireland for public dissemination, regardless of subject or publisher. If you would like to know more about NIPR please e-mail info@linenhall.com or phone: 028 9032 1707.