Senior Executive Librarian

30/10/2025

Welcome to our new staff spotlight section which highlights the many services delivered by Cork City Council on a daily basis. 

In this edition of our staff spotlight, you'll get to know our Senior Executive Librarian, Patricia Looney.

Tell us about your job?

Being a Senior Executive Librarian in Cork City Libraries comes with the responsibility for Cork City Library’s Executive Librarians. My role is in literary programming, cultural events, supporting local writers and literary festivals as well as governance responsibilities across all 10 libraries as part of Cork City Libraries’ Senior Management Team.

How did you end up working as Senior Executive Librarian for Cork City Council?

It happened by chance! Having studied Social Science in UCC, I worked for a few years with children at risk and with the Kerry Diocesan Youth Service. I applied for a library assistant job with Cork City Libraries and here I am many years later! I never thought it would be my job for life, but I loved it from the start. I took a career break to do a post-grad in Library and Information studies in UCD and made a career of it. From then I had a variety of roles within the service which eventually led to my current role.

What does a typical day involve?

There is no typical day when you work with a team of almost 120 staff, 10 locations and the public! My work with Creative Ireland, the Arts Council, publishers and writers & poets in the city keep me very busy. This involves curating library publications, book launches, workshops, events guides and exhibitions. I work very closely with a broad spectrum of stakeholders and with colleagues across the City Council in the Arts Office, Parks, Heritage and Irish to name a few. I am also the director of the Cork World Book Festival, a collaboration between Cork City Council and the Triskel Arts Centre which is now firmly rooted in the national festival calendar and it celebrated its 21^st birthday this year. 4,573 events took place across our libraries in 2024 with 76,841 people in attendance.

What is your favourite part of your job?

Working with the amazing people that are part of the Cork City Libraries’ staff. My colleagues are the epitome of the public service ethos that has ensured our position as a very progressive library service. The empathy and kindness they show everyone of the 954,847 visitors that passed through our doors in 2024 ensure that our libraries are welcoming and safe spaces for all our communities. I also love being part of the vibrant literary life of the city and experiencing the mutual support between the libraries and writers in the Cork.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Follow your heart and don’t be afraid of making mistakes.