Happy Birthday!

We can hardly believe it, but it has been 10 years this week since our friends in Kirkwall moved into their lovely new Library and Archive building. This year also sees 50 years of the mobile library service in Orkney so of course we had to have a celebration. As well as a wonderful exhibition charting the history of the mobile service there are a series of events and promotions running all week. 

As we are all in such a good mood, and full of birthday cake, we have declared an amnesty for all overdue books so that even if you have been invoiced you can return the books this week and we will waive the usual admin fee. You can also enjoy free CD and DVD loans all week and there are complimentary chocolates on the issue desk - if you hurry there may even be some left. *sound of sweetie wrappers hastily being hidden under the desk*

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?!

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.