Orkney Library@OrkneyLibrary

Books and Archives since 1683. linktr.ee/orkneylibrary

 Orkney
orkneylibrary.org.uk
Joined June 2009
10,364 Photos and videos
September 2026 marks 360 years since the Great Fire of London which took place in September 1666. It also reminds us of that time we found a letter in the Archive dated 1661, sent from #Orkney to an address in Pudding Lane, London - the very place the fire began. πŸ”₯
A scan of the letter addressed to Pudding Lane in London

ALT A scan of the letter addressed to Pudding Lane in London

4
71
533
6,641
more replies
Though the letter was sent five years before the Great Fire of London, it was sent very close to where the fire later started. Peter Winchester captained several ships at the time and the letter was sent to him from Thomas Buchanan who lived on the island of Shapinsay, #Orkney.
A scan of the archive letter

ALT A scan of the archive letter

1
2
50
1,295
A few years ago our Palaeography Group transcribed the letter - you can find out more about it and read the transcription on our Archive Blog at: orkneyarchive.blogspot.com/2…
A painting of the Great Fire of London

ALT A painting of the Great Fire of London

1
32
1,025
Looks like Tom Petty has been messing about with our displays again
Three different books with the title Falling

ALT Three different books with the title Falling

1
10
160
2,492
Happy 130th Birthday to F. Scott Fitzgerald who was born #onthisday in 1896. This is also your reminder that if editor Maxwell Perkins had not convinced Fitzgerald to change the title, The Great Gatsby was going to be called 'Trimalchio in West Egg.' Which really isn't as good.
The original cover of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

ALT The original cover of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

A black and white photograph of F. Scott Fitzgerald

ALT A black and white photograph of F. Scott Fitzgerald

3
36
253
3,126
Back in the old days in #Orkney, the thing that crows were *most* terrified of was being called a cad or a bounder by a dapper gentleman in a top hat. 🎩 #PhotographicArchives
A black and white archive photograph of a scarecrow wearing a coat and a top hat.

ALT A black and white archive photograph of a scarecrow wearing a coat and a top hat.

1
9
202
3,017
Today is #HobbitDay because Bilbo and Frodo Baggins were both born on September 22nd. Normally we'd shire a hobbit pun or two but it might just feel like a tolkien gesture and we don't want to embarrass our elves. Anyway it's a good day to come and boromir #Tolkien books. πŸ“š
A shelf of books by JRR Tolkien

ALT A shelf of books by JRR Tolkien

45
441
2,429
28,406
Tomorrow (19th September) is #TalkLikeAPirateDay and your annual reminder that when we talk the way we talk when we're talking like a pirate, it's because of a film that was based on a book, inspired by an earlier book, inspired by a real life pirate from #Orkney! ARRR! πŸ΄β€β˜ οΈπŸ‘‡
An illustration of a pirate with a tricorn hat and a bushy moustache

ALT An illustration of a pirate with a tricorn hat and a bushy moustache

9
50
381
5,932
more replies
THEN, in 1950 Disney released a movie version of TREASURE ISLAND starring Robert Newton as Long John Silver. Newton famously portrayed Silver with a West Country accent which has gone on to influence how people think ALL pirates talked every since. 🦜
Robert Newton as Long John Silver in Disney's Treasure Island

ALT Robert Newton as Long John Silver in Disney's Treasure Island

2
2
32
1,093
And THAT is the reason why we all go ARRR! (etc) on #TalkLikeAPirateDay. Because of film, that was based on a book, inspired by an earlier book, inspired by the real life #Orkney pirate John Gow. πŸ΄β€β˜ οΈ ARRR! 🦜
5
3
51
1,045
There were no cats in the car park this morning but there's a wholly unanticipated collared dove.
The car park at Orkney Library. There is a wall with a lamp post beside it. A dove is walking along the ground.

ALT The car park at Orkney Library. There is a wall with a lamp post beside it. A dove is walking along the ground.

1
7
276
2,731
This month our #LEGO display cases were full of fun and fabulous farming fare for our #OrkneyLibraryLego AROUND THE FARM theme! πŸ‘¨β€πŸŒΎπŸšœπŸ–πŸ„ All made by library users using our #Lego collection. Thank you to everyone who made us a model! ❀️ Our next theme is COSY SPACES! πŸ”₯πŸͺ΄πŸ“šβ˜•οΈ
1
6
165
2,622
You all know #BookyMcBookface but SOON we'll also have the #BookyMcNooks - 3 brand new portable library kits that will bring even more books and reading resources to communities across Orkney. Coming in Spring 2027. Find out more at: beta.orkney.gov.uk/latest-ne…
An Orkney Library card in front of library bookshelves

ALT An Orkney Library card in front of library bookshelves

2
18
313
3,158
This new project has been made possible because Orkney Library and Archive has been awarded funding from the Public Library Improvement Fund (PLIF), administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) on behalf of the Scottish Government.
25
973
Happy Birthday to @AgathaChristie - born #otd (15th September) in 1890. πŸŽ‰ She said that she came up with her ingenious detective plots by sitting in an old-fashioned bathtub eating apples. It was a core part of her technique. She got the seed of an idea, then fleshed it out.
A black and white photograph of an old rolltop bath. Agatha Christie's head is poking out at one end and there are 3 half-eaten apples sitting on the rim of the bath

ALT A black and white photograph of an old rolltop bath. Agatha Christie's head is poking out at one end and there are 3 half-eaten apples sitting on the rim of the bath

5
15
318
4,016
Tomorrow it'll be 8 years since Sting came in to return his books
Orkney Library@OrkneyLibrary
13 Sep 2018
You can always tell when Sting has been in to return his books.
10
117
1,250
41,847
Load more