Orkney Library & Archive is on Junction Road right in the heart of Kirkwall.
Books and archives since 1683
Orkney Library & Archive is on Junction Road right in the heart of Kirkwall.
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.
The Archive will be CLOSING at 5pm on Thursday 12th and 19th May.
Until the end of August the Archives and Orkney Room will be CLOSED every second Saturday. It will be OPEN on 14th May, 28th May, 11th June, 25th June, 9th July, 23rd July, 6th August and 23rd August. The Library will be continue to be OPEN as normal.
Orkney Library & Archive will be CLOSING at 5pm on Mondays until 6th June. We are open to 7pm on Thursday evenings as normal.
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.
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.
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.
In the foyer there is comfortable seating, a hot drinks machine and a selection of local and national newspapers and magazines. There is also a selection of withdrawn books for sale.
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.