Crieff Soroptimists

The speaker for the last meeting had to pull out late in the day, owing to an accident, but members were fortunate that Lara Haggarty, the 32nd keeper of books at Innerpeffray Library, was able to step in and give a fascinating talk on the history of the library.

The library was founded in 1680 by David Drummond, the third Lord Madertie, and it was the first free lending library in Scotland.

There was a chapel there already and the 421 books gifted by Lord Madertie to start the library were housed here.

They soon outgrew the space available so Lord Madertie’s great nephew Robert Hay Drummond, the Archbishop of York, had a proper building constructed, which was completed in 1762.

The library currently has about 5000 books, most of which were published before 1800.

One of the most remarkable items in the library is the borrowers’ ledger, which records every loan made from 1747 until lending ceased in 1968.

In 2013 a collection of rare Scottish works was given to the library by the American bibliophile Janet Burns St Germain.

These are housed in the new exhibition space on the ground floor and include the oldest book in the library, published in 1476.

To find out more about Crieff Soroptimists contact Janice Wilson on 01764 652532 or Iris King on 654367.