Friday 23 December 2011

Merry Christmas

Well that's us heading home, to wrap the presents, stuff the turkey and maybe even relax with a good book. We would like to wish you all a happy and peaceful festive season and we look forward to seeing you when the library re-opens on Wednesday 4th January 2012 at 2pm.

Best wishes from all at Stromness Library.

Wednesday 21 December 2011

We Wish You a Merry Christmas ...

and a Happy New Year!

We close for the holidays at 5pm on Friday 23rd December and re-open at 2pm on Wednesday 4th January 2012. So you have a few days yet to come in and stock up with holiday reading.

With two days of the Book Amnesty remaining there is still time to return those poor overdue library books to their place on the shelves - though the competition for the longest overdue return is hotting up, with a book returned to Kirkwall Library which a due date of 18th February 1956. Can anyone beat that we wonder?!

Tuesday 20 December 2011

Reading Group Christmas Meeting

The final Reading Group meeting for 2011 takes place tomorrow evening, Wednesday 21st December at 7pm, when we will be discussing The Young Visiters by Daisy Ashford.

Written in 1890 by nine-year-old Daisy Ashford, The Young Visiters was first published in 1919 with a preface by J.M. Barrie, who describes it as 'a remarkable work for a child' suggesting that 'the novelist will find the tale a model for his future work'. The story follows the characters as they attempt to find love and make their way in late Victorian society, and the comic tale is brought to life by the author's observation of character and idiosyncratic spelling, which has been preserved from the original manuscript.


Daisy Ashford

As ever all are welcome to come along and join the discussion, and in addition to the usual tea and coffee we will be enjoying some suitably festive nibbles as well!

Saturday 10 December 2011

Deck the Halls...

Having survived the storm unscathed, we decided to celebrate by finally breaking out the tinsel and getting festive in the Library. Thought you might like a peedie look ...


Christmas trees at the issue desk.


Christmas book display




Nativity scene in the Children's section

We're not entirely sure how he feels about it, but we just couldn't resist giving GMB a festive makeover too!

Wednesday 7 December 2011

Book Amnesty

Inspired by the return of a book to the library in Kirkwall which was due back in 1972,  we are running a Book Amnesty for the month of December. Although we don't operate a fine system, borrowers with overdue loans are eventually issued with an invoice for the cost of replacing the books. Invoices for non-returned items also incur an admin fee. In December all charges will be waived and both ourselves and the library in Kirkwall  have boxes into which overdue items can be placed anonymously. If you have previously returned your overdues, but still have the admin fee to pay, you can bring in the letter we have sent you and you won't have to pay a penny - this means that you will once again be able to use our wonderful services, and start 2012 with a clear conscience!


Since the Book Amnesty began the library in Kirkwall have already broken their previous record, with the return of a book due back in 1971! Can anyone beat that we wonder? Somewhere out there are poor lost library books just waiting to find their way back home, perhaps nestling forgotten at the back of a bookcase or hidden in a box of bric-a-brac in an attic. So have a look round at home for any library books that might be in hiding, and help them make it home in time for Christmas. However long they've been away we'll be very glad to welcome them back.