Leighton Library, Dunblane

Scotland's oldest purpose-built independent library founded in 1687

When it first opened, Bishop Douglas drew up rules for the Keeper of the Leighton Library

Added at 06:25 on 16 April 2024

It's #NationalLibrarianDay
#LibrarianDay today. When Dunblane's historic Leighton Library first opened, Bishop Robert Douglas determined that the Librarian should be a Divinity student, “a young man that were pious and sober, trusty, and of good behaviour” and that he would serve for three or four years. Bishop Douglas drew up rules (shown in this image) for the Keeper of the Library, which included:

• Being present in the library every day from 10am – 12 noon and 2 – 4 pm.
• Keeping the library tidy and cleaning the books and shelves at least four times a year.
• Having a fire in the library at least once a week in the winter.
• Not allowing visitors to take books from the shelves. Only the Librarian could do this.
• Keeping the books in the same order.
• Permitting “no persones to haunt the Library but such as come with a purpose to read, &c.”

The Librarian had to swear an oath on appointment, that he would use his best endeavours for the good and preservation of the library.

< Leighton Library has a 2nd edition of 1755/6 of Dr Samuel Johnson's dictionary "A Dictionary of the English Language"Leighton Library has several books by theologian and scholar Edward Stillingfleet >