More than 5,000 people worldwide used the National Library's new genealogy service last year. The service received an average of 60 visits a day from overseas people seeking assistance with researching their ancestors.
According to the library's trustees' report 1998, the library spent more than £400,000 on the purchase of books, manuscripts and other materials.
American visitors (44 per cent) constituted the largest single group using the new genealogy service, which opened in June 1998. There were also significant numbers from Britain (10 per cent), Australia (8 per cent) and Canada (5 per cent).
The library also benefited from gifts and donations of important manuscript material, including the Sheehy Skeffington papers, Brendan Corish papers, and the Dr J.B. Lyons papers.
The report says the library is "particularly indebted to Mr John Ronan for his generous donation of the Nugent manuscript, An Duanaire Nuinseannach. The manuscript had been held on loan for many years but was withdrawn by the former owners in 1996 and sold at Sotheby's.
Last year's donation was made under the provisions of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, which allows tax credits against donations to the library. Another highlight for the National Library was the opening of the new photographic archive in Temple Bar in late October.
The library also extended its opening hours, installed a new computer system and received planning permission for the conversion, for library purposes, of the former National College of Art and Design premises adjoining the library.
The National Library employs 77 people.
