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For 250 years the library collection has evolved and developed as a research and teaching collection for members of the College. While the main focus of the library is medicine, there are also works on other branches of science, law, classics, antiquaries and other subjects that interested the College Fellows. In addition, the library collected any works written by our Fellows, these cover a wide range of topics from a biography of Thomas à Kempis to travel writing and poetry.

In the 1960s the difficult decision was taken to no longer maintain a current medical library, the focus instead shifting to preserving the historical collection.

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

We hold the collections of two Masters of the Rotunda, Sir Arthur V Macan (1843-1908) and Gibbon Fitzgibbon (1877-1952) and one Master of the National Maternity Hospital, Sir Andrew Horne (1856-1924). Possibly most notable is the collection of Fleetwood Churchill (1808-1878) which comprises his own contemporary working library and a collection of historical texts dating back to the 17th century. The material donated by Robert J Rowlette (1873-1944) contains early 20th century work on sexual health and contraception.

Psychiatry

We hold two special collections from physicians at the Richmond District Lunatic Asylum, John Mollan (1790-1877) and Conolly Norman (1853-1908), as well as books belonging to John Mills (d.1936) Resident Medical Superintendent in Ballinasloe Mental Hospital.

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology is well represented by the large collection of books, pamphlets and journals on the topic donated by Arthur Benson (1852-1912) Surgeon at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin.

Public Health and Communicable Diseases

These specialties are represented in many of the special collections, but notably in the library of Thomas Wrigley Grimshaw (1839-1900) Registrar General for Ireland, Sir John William Moore (1845-1937) and Christopher Joseph McSweeney (d.1953), resident medical superintendent of the Cork Street Fever Hospital, Dublin.

General Medicine

Before the modern specialisation of medicine towards the end of the 19th century, most physicians would have been generalist. This type of physician is represented in the libraries of Sir John Thomas Banks (1816-1908), Sir John Hawtrey Benson (1843-1931), James Little (1837-1916), Aquilla Smith (1806-1890) and his son Walter George Smith (1844-1932) and Robert Travers (1807-1888). Travers, who was also Assistant Librarian to Marshes Library, donated books on non-medical topics.

The College also houses the library of the Irish Cardiac Society.