Paul Koralek’s 1967 solid, square, Brutalist-style building hasn't been as vilified as other examples of the style throughout the city, but it took some getting used to, at least in the eyes of traditionalists. Fifty years on, it seems to fit nicely into Trinity's overall aesthetic. It's the university's largest on-campus library and is fronted by Arnaldo Pomodoro’s 1982 sculpture Sphere Within Sphere.

The library is named after George Berkeley (1685–1753), a Kilkenny-born polymath who studied at Trinity when he was only 15 years old and went on to a distinguished career in many fields, particularly philosophy. His influence spread to the new colonies in North America where, among other things, he helped to found the University of Pennsylvania. Berkeley, California, and its namesake university are named after him.

Transportation

  • tram: Trinity
  • bus: all city centre

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Sphere Within Sphere

0.02 MILES

The distinctive globe-shaped sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro was donated to Trinity College in 1992 and positioned in the raised square by the entrance to…

2. Arts & Social Science Building

0.04 MILES

The 1978 Arts & Social Science Building backs on to Nassau St and forms an alternative entrance to the college. It was designed by Paul Koralek in the…

3. Old Library & Book of Kells

0.05 MILES

Trinity's greatest treasures are found within the Old Library and the incredible Long Room is one of the most photographed rooms in Dublin, for good…

4. Rubrics Building

0.06 MILES

Trinity College's oldest existing building dates from around 1700. It was originally part of a quadrangle of similar buildings designed to enclose New Sq,…

5. Douglas Hyde Gallery of Modern Art

0.07 MILES

One of Dublin's best contemporary art galleries, the Douglas Hyde is tucked away in the Arts & Social Science Building of the Trinity College campus. Its…

6. Trinity College

0.07 MILES

Trinity College Dublin is Ireland's most prestigious university, a collection of elegant Georgian and Victorian buildings, cobbled squares and nature…

7. WEH Lecky Statue

0.07 MILES

Besides having a library on campus named after him, historian, political thinker and Trinity alum William Edward Hartpole Lecky (1838–1903) has been…

8. 1937 Reading Room

0.08 MILES

This classically inspired building is a private reading library for postgraduate students. It was originally designed by Sir Thomas Manly Deane (1851–1933…

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