Students and members of the public could face restricted access to Trinity College Library in the new year because of industrial action by staff.
The action is over vacancies and promotional posts. Staff are refusing to do the work of people who have left the library or are on career breaks until these problems are resolved.
The situation is expected to worsen significantly from January 8th, the start of the new term. The areas worst affected so far are the Berkeley Library and the early printed books section.
At present there are five vacancies, according to a SIPTU representative, Mr Jack McGinley, with another two due in January. He said that as vacancies increased among the 100-strong staff, the union would ballot members to "black" the extra work.
Two new promotional posts have been agreed under a restructuring deal on which negotiations began five years ago.
SIPTU is refusing to permit the introduction of a graduate scale for librarians to widen the recruitment catchment for the college. About 60 per cent of applicants for jobs at the TCD library are graduates, although the basic salary scale is between £10,000 and £19,000.
An independent facilitator, Mr Kieran McGovan, has been trying to resolve the dispute, and both sides are due to meet again next month.