Orkney Library and Archive
{{Short description|Public library in Orkney Islands, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox library|name=Orkney Library and Archive|image=ORKNEY LIBRARY AND ARCHIVE - KIRKWALL (9265843451).jpg|country=Scotland, UK|established=1683|location=Kirkwall|coordinates={{coord|58.982774|-2.963051|format=dms|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}|website=http://www.orkneylibrary.org.uk/}}
Orkney Library and Archive is a Scottish public library service based in Kirkwall, Orkney. Founded in 1683, Orkney Library is the oldest public library in Scotland.{{Cite web | url=http://orkneyarchive.blogspot.com/p/history.html | title=Orkney Archive - get dusty: History}} Its rules date from 1815.{{Cite book|title=Institution, rules & catalogue of the Orkney Library : instituted 23d August 1815.|last=Orkney Library|publisher=John Moir, Royal Bank Close|year=1816|location=Edinburgh}}{{Cite book|title=Libraries and information servicesin the United Kingdom and the Repub.|date=2015|publisher=Facet Publishing|isbn=9781856048019|location=London|oclc=903237675}} It has become known for its popular, humorous Twitter account.
History
The Orkney Library and Archive was founded in 1683 with a bequest of 150 books from William Baikie. The collection was kept at the local manse before being transferred to St Magnus Cathedral. In 1740 the collection was moved to the Old Tollboth. In 1815 a number of subscribers to the collection founded The Orkney Library. The library was a subscription-only service until 1890 when a donation from Andrew Carnegie allowed the library to adopt the 1850 Public Libraries Act. A further donation was made by Carnegie in 1903 for a dedicated building. The new Carnegie Library opened on Laing Street in Kirkwall in 1909. The current library building on Junction Road, Kirkwall opened in August 2003.{{Cite web |url=https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/orkney-library-and-archive.htm |title=Orkney Library and Archive |website=Orkney Islands Council |access-date=April 9, 2022}}
Archive
File:Orkney Library and Archive shelves.jpg
The Archive was established in 1973.{{Cite book|title=British archives : a guide to archive resources in the United Kingdom|date=2002|publisher=Palgrave|others=Foster, Janet, 1948-, Sheppard, Julia.|isbn=9780333735367|edition= 4th|location=Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire|pages=276|oclc=48588407}} The collection includes local history and genealogical records, photographs, sound recordings, and film.{{Cite web |url=https://orkneylibrary.org.uk/aboutourlibraries/ |title=About Our Libraries |website=Orkney Library and Archive |access-date=April 9, 2022}} The collection also includes letters from William Galloway to Sir Henry Dryden.{{Cite journal|last=Ritchie|first=Anna|date=2012|title=From Colonsay to Whithorn: The work of a 19th-century antiquary, William Galloway|journal=Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland|volume=142|pages=435–465|doi=10.9750/PSAS.142.435.465 }} The Archive service was awarded accreditation in November 2017.{{Cite web | url=http://www.orkneylibrary.org.uk/aboutarchive.htm | title=About Orkney Archive}}
Services
The Library offers access to over 145,000 items, including fiction and non-fiction titles, audiobooks, maps, eBooks, music CDs and DVDs.{{Cite web | url=http://www.orkneylibrary.org.uk/kirklibrary.htm | title=About our libraries | access-date=14 October 2019 | archive-date=15 November 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115143357/http://www.orkneylibrary.org.uk/kirklibrary.htm | url-status=dead }}
Twitter presence
The Library enjoys a good-natured and well publicised Twitter feud with Shetland Library.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/05/incredible-twitter-feud-between-remote-scottish-libraries-reigni/|title=Incredible Twitter feud between remote Scottish libraries reignites|last=Molloy|first=Mark|date=2016-04-05|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2018-02-05|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2016/06/07/richard-coles-fans-the-flames-of-library-twitter-war|title=Richard Coles fans the flames of library Twitter war - The Shetland Times|date=2016-06-07|work=The Shetland Times|access-date=2018-02-05|language=en-GB}} J.K. Rowling paid a surprise trip to the library book group in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/mar/07/jk-rowling-checks-out-orkneys-award-winning-library-in-person|title=JK Rowling checks out Orkney's award-winning library in person|last=Flood|first=Alison|date=2016-03-07|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-02-05}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{twitter|OrkneyLibrary}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Public libraries in Scotland