Orkney Library & Archive
Source: http://www.orkneylibrary.org.uk
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:39
Orkney Library & Archive
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Welcome to
Orkney Library & Archive
Orkney Library & Archive is on Junction Road right in the heart of Kirkwall.
Read More About Our Libraries
Joining the Library
If you live, work or study in Orkney then you can become a full member of Orkney Library.
Visitors to Orkney are welcome to join on a temporary visitor membership.
How to join
NHS ORKNEY – NEAR ME Appointments – Click here
If you have been offered an NHS Near Me appointment but you don’t have access to a tablet or laptop or if you need some technical support then you can come to Orkney Library & Archive or Stromness Library at Warehouse Buildings. We can provide you with the equipment you need and help you get online. You will also be offered a quiet, private space to attend your appointment.
NHS Near Me is a video consulting service which provides virtual consultations enabling you to attend your appointment by video link. This may mean you can attend your appointment online here in Orkney, without having to travel to the mainland. Speak to your GP for more information.
You can find out more about Near Me by clicking the link above or by going to:
https://www.nearme.scot/
News & Updates
BorrowBox ePress – April 2026
We have expanded our collection of digital newspapers and magazines on BorrowBox so Orkney Library members now have access to more than 300 daily and weekly newspapers from around the world, and almost 500 magazines, along with back issues.
You can explore all the new publications at:
https://orkney.borrowbox.com/epress/featured
You can log in on your browser or download the FREE BorrowBox App from wherever you get your apps and log in with your Orkney Library card. This also gives you FREE access to our eBook and eAudiobook collections.
Mobile Library – LONGHOPE, HOY & FLOTTA
The Mobile Library visit to Longhope, Hoy & Flotta that was cancelled due to weather on the 24th & 25th March has been
rescheduled
to the 14th & 15th April at all the normal stop times. Apologies for any inconvenience.
Mobile Library – 2026
The Mobile Library timetable for 2026 is available now. You can find our
printable colour calendar timetable here
, or if you’d like a more accessible list of dates without the use of colour you can
find that here
or on our
Mobile Library webpage.
For more information, or if you need any other assistance please contact us on 01856 873166 or email library@orkney.gov.uk.
Interactive Orkney Flora Trail – August 2025
Each planter also has a QR code which you can scan to hear the poems OR
you can hear them on our website by clicking here
.
Orkney Talking Newspaper
Our partners at Orkney Talking Newspaper have recorded an audiobook version of Orkney – A Special Place by Richard Clubley. You can listen to a short excerpt below but if you’d like to hear the rest of the book we have a number of copies available on USB drives which you can borrow from Orkney Library & Archive.
https://orkneylibrary.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Orkney-A-Special-Place-Chapter-5.mp3
April 2025 – we’ve just published our Annual Impact Report 2024 which highlights all the things we’ve been working on at Orkney Library & Archive over the last year.
Click here to open
Audio Waves Book Club
Audio Waves Book Club is a completely new Book Club from Orkney Library & Archive where we are listening to Audiobooks and eAudiobooks instead of reading printed books. It’s a way of offering a book club experience to readers who prefer or require audiobooks, and there are no physical meetings which means it can be more inclusive of people with sight or mobility issues, or for people who live in more remote parts of Orkney, or elsewhere across the world.
It’s open to anyone who wants to take part, wherever you live. There is no registration required and we’ll only nominate a new book every couple of months so there will be plenty of time to listen to each title.
Find out more about Audio Waves Book Club by clicking here.
In June 2024 Orkney Library & Archive WON an Orkney Islands Council Values in Practice (VIP) Award in the category of Creativity.
The awards are aimed at recognising work which reflects and embodies the values of Orkney Islands Council and are awarded across three categories – Customer Focus, Working Together and Creativity.
The Creativity Award is a recognition of ‘individuals or teams who bring about change leading to clear benefits for customers, colleagues and our communities. It’s for individuals or teams who show commitment to improving and developing themselves and the work they deliver.’
ODILO - Ukraine Unlimited Learning App - Click here
The ODILO app has over 1700 FREE eBooks in Ukrainian suitable for all ages and reading abilities. You can download the ODILO Ukrainian Unlimited Learning app for FREE from your normal app store or if you don't have a smartphone or tablet you can access ODILO through a web browser on a PC or laptop. You don't need to be a library member to use the app and can register for free using your email address. Find out more and access the service by following the link above.
#BeDistanceAware
At Orkney Library & Archive we're proud to be supporting the Distance Aware scheme, encouraging people to give more space when they see this symbol. If you see someone wearing a badge or a lanyard with this symbol, please give them some space so that we can all feel comfortable as we adapt to living with COVID-19.
If you (or someone you know) needs some extra space you can pick up a FREE Distance Aware badge or lanyard in Kirkwall, Stromness or at the Mobile Library.
Books and archives since 1683
Orkney Library & Archive
Orkney Library & Archive is on Junction Road right in the heart of Kirkwall and Stromness Library is situated in the Warehouse Buildings at the historic pierhead in Stromness.
Read More about our Libraries
Library
Archive
Online Resources
Events
Groups
Contact
The Library service provides access to over 145,000 items
We have a wide range of fiction and non-fiction titles available for loan as well as audiobooks, maps, eBooks, music CDs and DVDs and we also have a well stocked
junior and teenage library
.
Online Catalogue
You can browse our full
catalogue online
. If there is an item you require that we do not have in our collection, it may be possible to acquire from another library on your behalf as an Inter-Library Loan. Find out more about this service by
clicking here
.
Reference Room
Upstairs we have a Reference Room which has an extensive collection of resources including reference books, maps and local government information. There are also study carrels with power sockets and desk lamps which are ideal for quiet study.
Our Foyer
In the foyer there is comfortable seating, access to hot drinks, and a selection of magazines, leaflets and other useful information. There is also a selection of withdrawn books for sale.
Free Wi-Fi
We have FREE Wi-Fi within the building and a number of public access computers with internet access which are FREE for Library members but are also available to visitors for a small charge.
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Skip to content
Welcome to
Orkney Library & Archive
Orkney Library & Archive is on Junction Road right in the heart of Kirkwall.
Read More About Our Libraries
Joining the Library
If you live, work or study in Orkney then you can become a full member of Orkney Library.
Visitors to Orkney are welcome to join on a temporary visitor membership.
How to join
NHS ORKNEY – NEAR ME Appointments – Click here
If you have been offered an NHS Near Me appointment but you don’t have access to a tablet or laptop or if you need some technical support then you can come to Orkney Library & Archive or Stromness Library at Warehouse Buildings. We can provide you with the equipment you need and help you get online. You will also be offered a quiet, private space to attend your appointment.
NHS Near Me is a video consulting service which provides virtual consultations enabling you to attend your appointment by video link. This may mean you can attend your appointment online here in Orkney, without having to travel to the mainland. Speak to your GP for more information.
You can find out more about Near Me by clicking the link above or by going to:
https://www.nearme.scot/
News & Updates
BorrowBox ePress – April 2026
We have expanded our collection of digital newspapers and magazines on BorrowBox so Orkney Library members now have access to more than 300 daily and weekly newspapers from around the world, and almost 500 magazines, along with back issues.
You can explore all the new publications at:
https://orkney.borrowbox.com/epress/featured
You can log in on your browser or download the FREE BorrowBox App from wherever you get your apps and log in with your Orkney Library card. This also gives you FREE access to our eBook and eAudiobook collections.
Mobile Library – LONGHOPE, HOY & FLOTTA
The Mobile Library visit to Longhope, Hoy & Flotta that was cancelled due to weather on the 24th & 25th March has been
rescheduled
to the 14th & 15th April at all the normal stop times. Apologies for any inconvenience.
Mobile Library – 2026
The Mobile Library timetable for 2026 is available now. You can find our
printable colour calendar timetable here
, or if you’d like a more accessible list of dates without the use of colour you can
find that here
or on our
Mobile Library webpage.
For more information, or if you need any other assistance please contact us on 01856 873166 or email library@orkney.gov.uk.
Interactive Orkney Flora Trail – August 2025
Each planter also has a QR code which you can scan to hear the poems OR
you can hear them on our website by clicking here
.
Orkney Talking Newspaper
Our partners at Orkney Talking Newspaper have recorded an audiobook version of Orkney – A Special Place by Richard Clubley. You can listen to a short excerpt below but if you’d like to hear the rest of the book we have a number of copies available on USB drives which you can borrow from Orkney Library & Archive.
https://orkneylibrary.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Orkney-A-Special-Place-Chapter-5.mp3
April 2025 – we’ve just published our Annual Impact Report 2024 which highlights all the things we’ve been working on at Orkney Library & Archive over the last year.
Click here to open
Audio Waves Book Club
Audio Waves Book Club is a completely new Book Club from Orkney Library & Archive where we are listening to Audiobooks and eAudiobooks instead of reading printed books. It’s a way of offering a book club experience to readers who prefer or require audiobooks, and there are no physical meetings which means it can be more inclusive of people with sight or mobility issues, or for people who live in more remote parts of Orkney, or elsewhere across the world.
It’s open to anyone who wants to take part, wherever you live. There is no registration required and we’ll only nominate a new book every couple of months so there will be plenty of time to listen to each title.
Find out more about Audio Waves Book Club by clicking here.
In June 2024 Orkney Library & Archive WON an Orkney Islands Council Values in Practice (VIP) Award in the category of Creativity.
The awards are aimed at recognising work which reflects and embodies the values of Orkney Islands Council and are awarded across three categories – Customer Focus, Working Together and Creativity.
The Creativity Award is a recognition of ‘individuals or teams who bring about change leading to clear benefits for customers, colleagues and our communities. It’s for individuals or teams who show commitment to improving and developing themselves and the work they deliver.’
ODILO - Ukraine Unlimited Learning App - Click here
The ODILO app has over 1700 FREE eBooks in Ukrainian suitable for all ages and reading abilities. You can download the ODILO Ukrainian Unlimited Learning app for FREE from your normal app store or if you don't have a smartphone or tablet you can access ODILO through a web browser on a PC or laptop. You don't need to be a library member to use the app and can register for free using your email address. Find out more and access the service by following the link above.
#BeDistanceAware
At Orkney Library & Archive we're proud to be supporting the Distance Aware scheme, encouraging people to give more space when they see this symbol. If you see someone wearing a badge or a lanyard with this symbol, please give them some space so that we can all feel comfortable as we adapt to living with COVID-19.
If you (or someone you know) needs some extra space you can pick up a FREE Distance Aware badge or lanyard in Kirkwall, Stromness or at the Mobile Library.
Books and archives since 1683
Orkney Library & Archive
Orkney Library & Archive is on Junction Road right in the heart of Kirkwall and Stromness Library is situated in the Warehouse Buildings at the historic pierhead in Stromness.
Read More about our Libraries
Library
Archive
Online Resources
Events
Groups
Contact
The Library service provides access to over 145,000 items
We have a wide range of fiction and non-fiction titles available for loan as well as audiobooks, maps, eBooks, music CDs and DVDs and we also have a well stocked
junior and teenage library
.
Online Catalogue
You can browse our full
catalogue online
. If there is an item you require that we do not have in our collection, it may be possible to acquire from another library on your behalf as an Inter-Library Loan. Find out more about this service by
clicking here
.
Reference Room
Upstairs we have a Reference Room which has an extensive collection of resources including reference books, maps and local government information. There are also study carrels with power sockets and desk lamps which are ideal for quiet study.
Our Foyer
In the foyer there is comfortable seating, access to hot drinks, and a selection of magazines, leaflets and other useful information. There is also a selection of withdrawn books for sale.
Free Wi-Fi
We have FREE Wi-Fi within the building and a number of public access computers with internet access which are FREE for Library members but are also available to visitors for a small charge.
Manage Cookie Consent
We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options
Manage services
Manage {vendor_count} vendors
Read more about these purposes
Preferences
{title}
{title}
{title}