ANNE CULHANE…….LSAD Library legend gives us the lowdown.

What was your favourite childhood book? I can remember reading ‘The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe’ by C.S. Lewis and being so enchanted by it - that as soon as I would finish it – I would start again at the beginning. I bought it again lately just for the memories and was delighted when my daughter read it and was just as enchanted as I had been. What books had the most influence on you in your college days? ‘Heroes’ by John Pilcher, without a doubt. This book opened my mind to the struggles of people throughout the world. We are carried along on his journey as he traces his family history back to a number of countries and races including Ireland and Russia. He explores the reasons many of his ancestors were forced to emigrate in difficult and often brutal conditions. The resulting stories are at once harrowing, engrossing and illuminating. Do you have any memory or story about your college library? When I was an art student (many, many years ago !) There wasn’t any library!!! (Shock! Horror!) I joined both city and county public libraries and found them to be great. I always saw libraries as a haven where I felt at home. No wonder then, that I eventually landed up working in one and being perfectly happy to do so! If you were stranded on a desert Island what book would you like to have with you? It would either be the Bible or An Anthology of Irish Poetry. I would not consider myself to be overly religious but I think there are many lessons to be learned from the Bible. Plus, any book that mentions wine 228 times has to be good! I would also be happy with an anthology of Irish poetry. Poetry is music that is spoken and every time of reading or speaking can bring a different interpretation.