National Library of Scotland to head north on 100th anniversary tour

STAFF from the National Library of Scotland are heading to Shetland next week as part of a nationwide tour marking the organisation’s 100th anniversary.

The centenary programme sees the National Library take highlights from its collections beyond its Edinburgh base, sharing them with communities across the country.

The tour also aligns with the National Year of Reading.

The tour will be in Shetland from Tuesday 12 to Friday 15 May, coinciding with the Outwith: Valda, MacDiarmid and Whalsay exhibition at Shetland Museum & Archives.

Alongside supporting the exhibition, visiting staff will deliver other activities across the isles.

This will include a visit to the Speldiburn Cafe in Bressay (2.30pm – 4pm) and Yell Community Library (5pm-6pm) on Wednesday 13 May, while there will be visits to schools in Yell, Brae and Lerwick throughout the week.

People can also book onto the following free sessions at the Shetland Library in Lerwick on Thursday 14 May:

• 2.30pm – Putting Shetland on the Map
• 3.30pm – Virtual Reading Room: See Special Collections from a Distance
• 4.30pm – Exploring E-Resources
• 5.30pm – A Journey Through the National Library’s Treasures

There will also be drop-in activities that day for all ages from 2pm to 7pm.

Shetland Library’s team leader for library reader services Catherine Jeromson said: “We are very fortunate that the National Library of Scotland has chosen to visit Shetland as part of its centenary celebrations.

“Opportunities like this don’t come around often, and it is incredibly valuable for our communities to engage directly with such nationally important collections and expertise.

“As well as their artefacts on loan to our partners at Shetland Museum and Archives, the team will share their knowledge, skills and resources through sessions across the isles.

“During the National Year of Reading, it is especially important to create opportunities for people to connect with reading, heritage and stories.

“We hope people of all ages will come along, get involved, and discover something new about Shetland’s place in Scotland’s wider story.”