Invest–Involve–Inspire: Shaping the next generation of library buildings at TU Dublin
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From 6–8 May 2026, TU Dublin will host Invest–Involve–Inspire: Shaping the next generation of library buildings, the LIBER Library Architecture Group (LIBER LAG) Seminar, welcoming librarians, architects, and project leaders from across Europe and beyond to explore how library design is transforming research, learning, and community engagement.
TU Dublin President, Dr Deirdre Lillis
LIBER (Ligue des Bibliothèques Européennes de Recherche – Association of European Research Libraries) is the voice of Europe’s research library community, representing around 420 national, university, and research libraries. Its Library Architecture Group Seminar is a biennial event that fosters collaboration between librarians and architects, showcasing innovative library buildings, renovations, and extensions that are redefining the future of library spaces.
Chair of LIBER Architecture Group, Marie-Pierre Pausch-Antoine
For the first time, this European seminar will be held in Ireland and is being hosted by TU Dublin Library Services at the Grangegorman campus. The event provides a significant opportunity to welcome international delegates and to showcase the University’s newly completed Academic Hub & Library, a landmark development at the heart of the campus.
LIBER Library Architecture Group
The Academic Hub & Library reflects TU Dublin’s vision for a truly integrated academic environment. Designed as a place where research, learning, heritage, and community intersect, the building embodies the seminar theme of Invest–Involve–Inspire. It brings together historical and contemporary architecture, incorporating the preserved North House within a striking modern structure that both complements and enhances it. Delegates will have the opportunity to explore the building through guided tours, alongside broader campus and historical tours of Grangegorman.
Julien Roche, President of LIBER, Marie-Pierre Pausch-Antoine, Chair of the LIBER Architecture Group, and Andy Priestner, Opening Keynote Speaker.
At the centre of the design is a strong focus on users. Academic services are consolidated in one accessible location, while a variety of study environments support different learning styles and evolving needs. The building has been designed to remain adaptable and resilient, ensuring it continues to serve future generations of students and staff.
It also plays an important civic role, strengthening the connection between TU Dublin and the wider community. Its ground-floor spaces include a café and an exhibition area open to the public, reinforcing the library as a welcoming point of engagement and exchange.
John Tuomey (O’Donnell + Tuomey), Allison Kavanagh (Head of Library Services, TU Dublin), and Catherine Cooke (Academic Hub Library Project Manager, TU Dublin).
Speaking ahead of the conference, Allison Kavanagh, Head of Library Services at TU Dublin, said:
“Hosting LIBER LAG 2026 is a unique opportunity to bring together international expertise in library design at a moment when our own Academic Hub & Library is opening its doors. It reflects our commitment to creating inclusive, inspiring spaces that support learning, research, and community engagement.”
Chair of LIBER Architecture Group, Marie-Pierre Pausch-Antoine, added:
“For more than thirty years, our community has gathered to share ideas, projects, and approaches that help us rethink our buildings and spaces. This year’s theme, Invest – Involve – Inspire, reflects what unites us and has guided our work.”
Over three days, the programme will feature keynote talks, panel discussions, workshops, and international case studies exploring themes such as user-led design, sustainability, adaptive reuse, and innovation in library spaces. Speakers from leading institutions, including Cambridge University Libraries, the University of Helsinki, Schmidt Hammer Lassen, and the National Library of the Netherlands, will share insights into transformative projects shaping the future of libraries.
Andy Priestner, Opening Keynote Speaker
A dedicated TU Dublin session will showcase the development of the Academic Hub & Library, featuring contributions from O’Donnell + Tuomey Architects and TU Dublin Library Services. The project highlights how thoughtful architectural design can enhance student experience, foster collaboration, and support community engagement at scale.
Hosting this international seminar also reflects TU Dublin’s wider strategic role in shaping sustainable, future-focused campus environments. The Grangegorman development aligns with national and European priorities, including Project Ireland 2040, the EU Green Deal, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
As delegates gather in Grangegorman for the first time in Ireland, LIBER LAG 2026 will place TU Dublin at the centre of an international conversation about the future of library spaces. The University looks forward to welcoming participants and sharing a campus environment that invests in people, involves communities, and inspires futures.