Laois Local Studies has reopened in its new home on Portlaoise main street. Local Studies is part of the new Portlaoise Library, a state of the art facility with a dedicated Local Studies reading room for the Laois Collection.

The new reading room is situated on the first floor of Portlaoise Library overlooking the ground floor area. The reading room is spacious and bright and can accommodate multiple readers and groups.

Local Studies has extended its opening hours to include a late evening on Wednesdays and Saturday opening. The reading room is open to anyone with an interest in the local, social, political and economic history of the county. The Laois Collection is reference only but all are welcome to access the collection, whether for research or pleasure. This week visitors to the new reading room are enjoying an exhibition of photographs from the Terry Redmond Collection, featuring Portlaoise people and places for the 1950s and 1960s.
Local Studies Opening Hours
Monday: 10am – 1pm, 2pm – 5pm
Tuesday: 10am – 1pm, 2pm – 5pm
Wednesday: 10am – 1pm, 2pm – 7.30pm
Thursday: 10am – 1pm, 2pm – 5pm
Saturday: 10am – 4pm*
*Closed on Saturday of Bank Holiday Weekend