Cricketers who sound like Tolkien characters. #1 in a limited series.

We now have 89 FREE online jigsaws at www.jigsawplanet.com/OrkneyLibrary - a collection we first started making during lockdown when the library was closed. If you like jigsaws and books/nice views/old photographs/Orkney then this is the collection for you. 🧩 Can you solve them all? 🧩

We're always getting asked about new online jigsaws for our #OrkneyLibraryJigsaw collection so we've MADE A NEW ONE using our #AgathaChristie post from yesterday! 🧩 Take a break and make our latest FREE online #jigsaw at: jigsawplanet.com?rc=play&pid=...

We don't know what else to tell you but it's Monday night and it's 5pm so it's time for EPISODE EIGHT of 'How light is it in #Orkney at 5pm this week?' Today has been one of the nicest, lightest, brightest days of the year so far, and right now in Orkney it's THIS LIGHT 💡

If you're joining in with the Agatha Christie #ReadChristie2026 challenge then the theme for March is the #AgathaChristie story that had the 'biggest impact on you as a young reader.' The chosen title for this month is the classic Murder on the Orient Express! 🚂❄️🔪

It's a bright, sunny, spring-like Saturday morning in #Orkney and the sun is shining on our balls. 🌞 How's your day going?

Out on the wily, windy moors we'd roll and fall in green. You had a book display, like my library on point, so timely. 📚 #WutheringHeights

This month our #LEGO display cases have been full of brilliantly bright LEGO models for our #OrkneyLibraryLego YEAR OF THE HORSE theme! 🐎🈲️🎊 All made by library users using our #Lego collection. Thanks to everyone who made us a model! ❤️ Our next theme is WORLD BOOK DAY! 📚🦸‍♂️🧙‍♀️👦👧

Right now in the Archive you'll find a fascinating display all about early women doctors in #Orkney, with a selection of documents, photographs and other items. You can visit the display during normal Archive opening hours and you can read more about it on our Blog at: orkneyarchive.blogspot.com

When you're alone and life is making you lonely you can always go

Okay brace yourself because this is BIG! It's Monday night and it's 5pm so it's time for EPISODE SEVEN of 'How light is it in #Orkney at 5pm this week?' OH MY THE STREETLIGHTS ARE OFF AND IT'S LITERALLY THIS LIGHT! 💡

If you're a member of (or want to join in with) our Audio Waves Book Club then our fifth Audio Waves title is: BEAUTIFUL UGLY by Alice Feeney. Available FREE on #BorrowBox with your Orkney Library card (OR find it wherever you get your Audiobooks) 🎧 Remember ANYONE can join in, WHEREVER you live!

We have an announcement. S N O W D R O P S ❤️

It's a cool February morning in #Orkney and #BookyMcBookface is away on the ferry to the beautiful islands of Rousay and Egilsay. 📚 Rousay is known as the 'Egypt of the North' due to its incredible density of archaeological sites including neolithic tombs, chambered cairns and Viking remains.

Just LENT this book to someone. Due back in 40 days. #AshWednesday

Every year on #PancakeDay we bake a Peter Pancake 🥞

It's cold but it's Monday night and it's 5pm so it's time for EPISODE 6 of 'How light is it in #Orkney at 5pm this week?' We thought it couldn't possibly be any lighter than this time last week BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY THIS LIGHT! 💡

On Saturday we had a Boro sewing session in the Lend & Mend Hub - in collaboration with the Orkney Japan Association and Soulisquoy Printmakers. Boro is a traditional Japanese technique that involves patching and stitching to mend, strengthen, and extend the life of garments.

It's another February Monday and we're starting to see more daylight at both ends of the day now. Today #BookyMcBookface is away north on the ferry to the beautiful #Orkney island of Stronsay. 📚❤️

Our Archivists just came across a 1798 map of the centre of Kirkwall #Orkney, created for a legal dispute over some ground. It's very exciting because it's one of the earliest detailed maps of Kirkwall we've seen. Read all about it on our Archive Blog: orkneyarchive.blogspot.com/2026/02/kirk...

Roses are red, coats go on hooks. We made you a love heart, from #Library books. 📚❤️ Happy #ValentinesDay to all our followers but especially YOU because you're our favourite. ❤️

Okay things are getting serious this week. It's Monday night and it's 5pm so it's time for EPISODE 5 of 'How light is it in #Orkney at 5pm this week?' BRACE YOURSELF. We started the year in darkness, but already it's THIS LIGHT! 💡

It's ages since we've featured a then and now image from our #PhotographicArchive so here's a merged photograph of Kirkwall #Orkney. The left side includes Orkney Library & Archive and was only taken a few years ago, while the right side was taken by Tom Kent around 1900.

We've just had half a crab delivered to the back door by a kindly gull, how's your Friday afternoon going?

Just a slob like one of us

Today is #NationalSweaterDay so let's enjoy 'The Fair-Isle Jumper' painted by #Orkney-born artist Stanley Cursiter in 1923. Stanley Cursiter (1887-1976) was Keeper of the National Galleries of Scotland from 1930-1948 and was appointed the King's Painter and Limner in Scotland.

It's a cold, blustery Tuesday morning in #Orkney but #BookyMcBookface is sailing away on the ferry to the lovely island of Shapinsay. ❤️ If you see Booky today then go and get some books! 📚

Incredible scenes as we slide from January into February and realise that yet again it's Monday night (and it's 5pm) so it MUST be time for Episode 4 of 'How light is it in #Orkney at 5pm this week?' We are NOT making this up. IT REALLY IS THIS LIGHT 💡

Once again our #LEGO cases have been jam-packed full of cosmically creative LEGO models for our #OrkneyLibraryLego SPACE theme! 🚀☄️🛰 All made by library users using our #Lego collection. Thanks to everyone who made us a model! ❤️ Our next theme is YEAR OF THE HORSE! 🐎🈲️🎊

.esrever ni gnihtyreve gniod er'ew os yaD drawkcaB lanoitaN si yadoT #NationalBackwardDay ⏪️

I saw the rain dirty valley you saw Brigadoon I saw the croissant you saw the whole of Sassoon #NationalCroissantDay

Today is #NationalPuzzleDay and DID YOU KNOW that along with an extensive collection of loanable jigsaws we ALSO HAVE FREE ONLINE JIGSAWS you can solve at: jigsawplanet.com/OrkneyLibrary We started publishing them online during lockdown and we now have over 80 puzzles to solve! 🧩

Mordor she wrote #LibraryShelfieDay

Whoa these Mondays are coming round quick! Can you believe it's Monday night and it's 5pm? That means it MUST be time for Episode 3 of 'How light is it in #Orkney at 5pm this week?' You're never going to believe this! IT'S THIS LIGHT! 💡

If you've been joining in with our Audio Waves Book Club then you've still got a couple of weeks to send us your review of The Wall of Life by Shirley MacLaine. Audio Waves is our newest Book Club where we are listening to Audiobooks instead of reading printed books. 🎧

Disco Inferno 🔥🔥🔥 #BurnsNight

Books are amazing. This novel was published back in 1995 but reading it TODAY, it's hasn't dated at all.

Exciting news - we now have a CHERRY TREE growing outside Orkney Library & Archive! ❤️ Massive thanks to the Orkney Japan Association. It's one of 30 trees planted in #Orkney as part of the #Sakura Cherry Tree Project which aims to plant 10,000 cherry trees across the UK. 🌸🌸🌸

Our Archive has just posted a new Blog post, written by guest blogger Joan, about the transcription of 17th century documents concerning the merchant and privateer Captain Peter Winchester. You can read it (and all their other fascinating blog posts) at: orkneyarchive.blogspot.com/2026/01/pigt...

#BlueMonday was definitely blue but nobody told us about #DarkRainyStormyWindyWednesday.

'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a library in possession of a good Jane Austen biography, must be in want of some googly eyes.'

It's Monday night and it's 5pm so it's time for Episode 2 of 'How light is it in #Orkney at 5pm this week?' We're already midway through January and the days are steadily lengthening at both ends. AND IT IS THIS LIGHT! 💡

New display in the children's library. If you don't get it, ask a young person. (you probably still won't get it but don't worry - we don't get it either) #67meme

It's #BlueMonday and it IS blue but we're not blue. 😀 The spire of St Magnus Cathedral taken through one of our arches this morning. ❤️

It's #BlueMonday and it IS blue but we're not blue. 😀 The spire of St Magnus Cathedral taken through one of our arches this morning. ❤️

Late afternoon, the middle of January and there's already a difference in the light. ❤️

Today (12th January) marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Dame Agatha Christie; mystery writer, playwright, plotting genius, creator of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple AND THE BESTSELLING NOVELIST OF ALL TIME. If you've never read her, the time is now. #ReadChristie2026

We promised it and now we're delivering! It's January 2026 and it's time for Episode 1 of the new season of 'How light is it in #Orkney at 5pm this week!' The snow delayed things a bit so now we're just going to give it to you straight up. No messing. It's THIS LIGHT! 💡

It's been a busy week back at Orkney Library & Archive! We were slightly disrupted by snow but we've still got through loads! Well done to our amazing Archive team for setting up our new Archive store and transporting literally tonnes of books and documents onto new shelves! 👏

Stepping outside the library into Narnia