In July 1930 Miss Letitia Dunbar Harrison's appointment as Mayo County Librarian set in motion a chain of events that resulted in a full scale political crisis. Mayo priests and politicians attempted to have her removed, and organized an effective boycott of the Library Service. 'The Mayo library row, " as it was commonly known, became news far outside the confines of the county. Looking at the background to the dispute uncovers many of the fault-lines of the newly formed Free State. Examining the anatomy of the crisis lays bare the tensions of society in 1930s Ireland as it moved away from colonial rule.