Since the current Orkney Library & Archive building opened in 2003 we have had many famous visitors from the worlds of literature, music, comedy, politics and even royalty. Here is a selection of our notable visitors starting with the most recent.
Poet and author Joseph Coelho visited Orkney Library in May 2023 while he was Waterstones Children’s Laureate. His visit was part of his Library Marathon to visit and join a library in every local authority in the UK.Author Donald S Murray has been a regular visitor to Orkney Library & Archive. His most recent visit was in February 2022 when he came to talk about Scottish lighthouses and his book For the Safety of AllWriter Barbara Henderson visited Orkney Library in February 2022 to talk to pupils from Glaitness and Firth Primary schools about her novel The Chessmen ThiefWriter and performer Harry Josephine Giles visited in November 2021 to launch their novel Deep Wheel OrcadiaWriter and journalist Cal Flyn visited Stromness Library to talk about her book Islands of Abandonment during Book Week Scotland in November 2021. She also visited Orkney Library & Archive in May 2022 during the Orkney Nature Festival.Writer and visual artist Samantha Clark visited Orkney Library to discuss her book The Clearing during Book Week Scotland in November 2021 Author of the Rivers of London series Ben Aaronovitch came to visit in September 2021The legend that is Morph came to visit Orkney Library & Archive with his creator Peter Lord in September 2019Author and historian Angus Konstam visited in September 2019 to talk about his book Hunting the BismarckScottish crime writer Bill Daly visited in September 2019 to discuss his novel Never Proven from his DCI Charlie Anderson seriesCrime writer Denzil Meyrick visited in June 2019 to meet our reading groups and to talk about his bestselling DCI Daley crime seriesAuthor of the African Adventures series, the Laura Marlin Mysteries and Wolfe & Lamb, Lauren St John visited in June 2019Bestselling author Rowan Coleman visited in November 2018 during Book Week ScotlandProbably best known in Orkney for his novel The Italian Chapel, author Philip Paris visited Orkney Library & Archive in August 2018 to launch his novel Effie’s WarAuthor of the hugely successful Peter and Jane blog on Facebook and the bestselling Why Mummy novels, Gill Sims visited Orkney Library & Archive in August 2018Doctor and award-winning author Gavin Francis visited the Warehouse Buildings in Stromness in July 2018 to talk about his book ShapeshiftersEdward Docx visited Orkney Library & Archive in April 2018 when the Hurricane Book Club discussed his novel Let Go My HandAuthor of the Spellchasers series for children, Lari Don visited Orkney Library & Archive in May 2017Bestselling author of the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency and Scotland Street novels Alexander McCall Smith visited Orkney Library & Archive in April 2017Scottish crime writer Chris Brookmyre came to Orkney Library & Archive in March 2017Bestselling author Elly Griffiths came to visit in February 2017 just a few days after the publication of her novel The Chalk PitAuthor Jane Harris visited Orkney Library & Archive during the Orkney Book Festival in November 2017Author Daniel Gray visited during Book Week Scotland in November 2017 to discuss his book Scribbles In The Margins with local author Ron FergusonCrime novelist and screenwriter Lin Anderson has been a regular visitor to Orkney Library & ArchiveScottish crime and thriller writer Mason Cross came to visit our join our crime reading group when they discussed one of his books in March 2017In November 2016 Cerys Matthews broadcast her BBC Radio 6 Sunday morning programme from Orkney Library & ArchiveChildren’s author and illustrator John Fardell visited Orkney Library & Archive during Book Week Scotland in November 2016Musician KT Tunstall visited Orkney Library & Archive in 2016Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl with a Pearl Earring visited Orkney Library & Archive in 2016Scottish food writer and novelist Sue Lawrence visited Orkney Library & Archive in June 2016Scottish author Margaret Elphinstone visited Orkney Library & Archive in April 2016Mary Paulson-Ellis visited Orkney Library & Archive in April 2016 when her book The Other Mrs Walker was discussed by the Hurricane Book ClubHarry Potter author JK Rowling made a surprise visit to Orkney Library & Archive in March 2016 when the Saturday Slaughters book group was discussing the first of her Cormoran Strike novelsScottish author Jenny Colgan visited Orkney Library & Archive in November 2015 during Book Week ScotlandCathy Rentzenbrink, author of The Last Act of Love, visited Orkney Library & Archive during Book Week Scotland in November 2015Swedish crime novelist Arne Dahl visited Orkney Library & Archive in November 2015Authors Louise Millar and Melanie McGrath came to Orkney Library & Archive during Book Week Scotland 2015 for a combined author event and to run a writing workshopSharon Bolton came to Orkney Library & Archive in July 2015Poet and playwright Liz Lochhead visited Stromness Library and performed her poetry in July 2015 while she was Scots Makar or National Poet of ScotlandTricia Marwick visited Orkney Library & Archive during a trip to Orkney as Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament in June 2015Bestselling children’s author Vivian French and author and illustrator Nick Sharratt were both in Orkney in May 2015 and came along to the opening of the new Stromness Library in the Warehouse BuildingsThe Gruffalo came to Orkney for our 24 Islands/24 Hours event in September 2014Scottish authors Louise Welsh and Zoe Strachan visited Orkney Library & Archive during our 24 Islands/24 Hours event in September 2014. They are photographed here with Orcadian author Alison MillerCraig Robertson visited Orkney Library & Archive during Book Week Scotland in November 2013 as part of Bloody Scotland on TourBestselling Scottish crime writer, and Fife farmer, James Oswald visited Orkney Library & Archive in September 2013 for his very first solo author eventScottish crime writer Denise Mina visited Orkney Library & Archive during Book Week Scotland in 2012 and 2013Bestselling Scottish crime writer Val McDermid visited Orkney Library & Archive during Book Week Scotland in November 2012Children’s author and illustrator Debi Gliori visited Orkney Library & Archive in 2012. Debi is also the creator of the Bookbug mascotAnn Cleeves has been a regular visitor to Orkney Library & ArchiveComedian Al Murray came to see us when he was in Orkney in June 2011Crime novelist, and founder member of the Scottish Association of Writers, Alanna Knight visited Orkney Library & Archive in June 2011Scottish crime writer and literary agent Allan Guthrie ran a writing workshop with Stuart Macbride at the Orkney Library & Archive in March 2010, during our Discovery Week eventScottish author Stuart MacBride ran a writing workshop alongside Allan Guthrie at Orkney Library & Archive in March 2010, during our Discovery Week eventPrince Edward officially opened the new Orkney Library & Archive building in 2003
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