asked the Minister for Education if the book Countess of Pembroke Arcadia by Sir Philip Sydney, a 400 years old manual presented to the National Library, was repaired as requested by the owner when donated to the Library in 1949; and if this book is freely available to the public.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Library Manual.
56.
Mr. O'Malley
No request or condition was attached to the donation of this volume to the National Library. It was in an advanced state of decay and decomposition at the time and this precluded its repair or restoration. For this reason also, it was not possible to make it available to the public for reference.
Is the book still available in the National Library?
Mr. O'Malley
I think it is lost; I think it is mislaid.
Could the Minister state when it was last seen?
Mr. O'Malley
The Deputy had a question down about the bookbinding of a telephone directory which would be a year old at the latest. This book was printed in 1598. It arrived in a box in an advanced state of decomposition. My information is that this book was offered to libraries in Great Britain and was not accepted due to its condition——
Or its content?
Is it not a fact that this book was accepted by the National Library and was signed for, on the understanding that it would be made available to the public? The book has disappeared. Somebody must have taken it. It is a book of considerable value. Can the Minister tell us any more about it?
Mr. O'Malley
The Director of the National Library informs me that he has a very clear recollection of this donation on account of its advanced state of decay. He is quite emphatic that there was no request or condition attached to the donation. I should also like to point out to the Deputy, in case he repeats this type of question— which he is welcome to do—that a lot of people arrive over there nearly every month with boxes—they are very welcome to do so. The National Library gets offers of peculiar things and they are not always really worthy of acceptance.
Do I understand from the Minister's reply that the National Library accepts anything that is delivered to it in a box?
Mr. O'Malley
Oh, no.
Anything they do not want to lose.