Orkney Library and Archive

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. Its rules date from 1815. It has become known for its popular, humorous Twitter account.

Photo: Victuallers, CC BY 4.0.

Opening hours:
Monday and Thursday: 10:00 AM—7:00 PM
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday: 10:00 AM—5:00 PM
Type: Library
Description: public library in Orkney Islands, Scotland, UK
Also known as: “Orkney Archive” and “Orkney Library & Archive”

Places of Interest Nearby

Highlights include St Magnus Cathedral and The Orkney Museum.

St Magnus Cathedral

Church

Photo: Robert Scarth, CC BY-SA 2.0.

St Magnus Cathedral is a Church of Scotland parish church in Kirkwall, the main town of Orkney, a group of islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland. St Magnus Cathedral is situated 710 feet east of Orkney Library and Archive.

The Orkney Museum

Museum

Photo: Andrew Abbott, CC BY-SA 2.0.

The Orkney Museum, formerly Tankerness House Museum, is a history museum in Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland. Run by Orkney Islands Council, the museum covers the history of the Orkney Islands from the Stone Age through the Picts and Vikings to the present day. The Orkney Museum is situated 470 feet southeast of Orkney Library and Archive.

Bishop’s Palace

Photo: Oehoe, CC BY-SA 3.0.

The Bishop's Palace, Kirkwall is a 12th-century palace built at the same time as the adjacent St Magnus Cathedral in the centre of Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland. Bishop’s Palace is situated 770 feet southeast of Orkney Library and Archive.

Places in the Area

Nearby places include Kirkwall and St Ola.

Kirkwall

Photo: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Kirkwall is the chief town of the Orkney Islands, which lie off the north tip of mainland Scotland. With a population of about 10,000 in 2020, Kirkwall has accommodation and other amenities and is the obvious base for exploring these islands.

St Ola

Locality

Photo: Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 2.0.

St Ola is a parish on Mainland, Orkney. It is in the centre of the island, east of the parish Firth and north of Holm. It contains the capital and largest town of the Orkney archipelago, Kirkwall.