23 September 2026
Offering a passport to a whole new set of skills, friends and fun, for people aged 0 months to 100+ years, Culture Perth & Kinross libraries are so much more than shelves of books.
Although there's plenty of those too.
Start by borrowing up to 12 items at a time — fact, fiction, educational and children's titles are all included — then go digital and watch the perks multiply. From free e-books and e-audiobooks to newspapers and magazines, you can download a world of information and imagination straight to your phone, tablet or e-reader.
Did you know your library card also gets you into coding clubs, reminiscence sessions, Bookbug and one-to-one digital skills support? That you can join a Seed Library, start a book club or get busy with a jigsaw swap? And that’s before we start chatting about the countless special events happening across all 12 libraries almost every week of the year.
From the heart of the city to the shores of Loch Leven and the streets of rural Perthshire, your library card opens more doors than you'd think — let's take a look at where to find them.
Housed in a striking Georgian building on York Place, which was originally built as Perth City and County Infirmary in 1836, AK Bell Library is the beating heart of Culture Perth & Kinross' library service.
It takes its name from Arthur Kinmond "A.K." Bell, the whisky magnate behind Bell's, whose legacy, The Gannochy Trust, supported the building's transformation into a library. Bell founded the Trust in 1937 to give back to the city that made him, and more than 80 years on, his name still opens the door to books, learning and community for everyone in the region.
From author talks to craft afternoons, Culture Perth & Kinross libraries are abuzz with free events for every age and interest.
Keep an eye out for Jump into Libraries days, where staff show you everything on offer, or if you prefer your fun more hands-on lookout for LEGO builds, seasonal crafts and family activities dotted throughout the year. Quieter sessions like local history talks and Ancestry drop-ins are perfect for anyone open to expanding their knowledge, and offer a great opportunity to meet like-minded people,
Check your local library's events calendar. You never know what or who you'll discover!
Your whole library, in your pocket. With a free membership, you can download up to 8 e-books and e-audiobooks at once via Libby or BorrowBox, plus browse magazines on PressReader and newspapers digitally. It's the same brilliant library, completely free, just available at 2am in your pyjamas.
If you’re one of the many people in our beautiful region who live rurally, or who are housebound for any reason, then the library can come to you.
The Mobile Library travels over 50,000 miles a year, stopping at set locations across the rural corners of Perth and Kinross that don't have a library building nearby. And if getting to a stop isn't possible either, Books on Wheels volunteers will deliver books, large print and audiobooks straight to your door and tailored to your taste.
From learning the basics to executing bold ideas, your library can help. Need a hand sending an email or downloading an app? Their Digital Champions offer free one-to-one help. For the creative people out there, Maker_Space for 3D printing, digital painting, video and audio editing, and 3D scanning are all free to use for individuals, creatives and community groups alike.
Add free internet, computers and printing into the mix, and you’ll find a tech solution for every ability and ambition.
The joy of the library is the variety. If you have a garden overflowing with seeds, or a puzzle collection gathering dust, they’ve you covered for both! The Perthshire Seed Library (small membership fee) lets gardeners swap open-pollinated seeds and know-how twice a year. Meanwhile, the Jigsaw Exchange is free, membership-not-required, and runs on good old-fashioned trust. Borrow one of 400+ complete puzzles and return it whenever you're done.
In an age where everything feels disposable and traditional skills are running low; this wholesome service can save planet and brain drain! Head to the free Lend and Mend Hubs at AK Bell Library and Scone Library, where you can access sewing machines, an overlocker, embroidery machine, crochet hooks and more. A quick induction gets you started, after which you can book equipment or drop into a free Sew Together session.
Starting your own Book Group is easier than you'd think. Grab a few friends, a pot of tea (or bottle of wine!), agree a title, and away you go. Once registered with the library (small annual fee), your group has access to a dedicated Book Group Collection of multiple-copy fiction and non-fiction sets. These can be delivered to your local library for everyone to pick and read.
Prefer to keep it casual? Join Café Books, the free online group on Facebook.
Little legs, big fun. Bookbug is Scottish Book Trust's free Early Years programme, packed with songs, rhymes and stories for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Expect gentle bounces for the babies, wiggle room for toddlers who've just found their feet, and a few rhymes that'll take you right back to your own childhood. Sessions run across CPK libraries and are suitable from 0+, so it's never too early to fall in love with reading.
If you’ve been tempted – and why wouldn't you be? - joining is free and takes minutes. You can sign up online for instant access to the Digital Library, or pop into any of CPK’s libraries – traditional or mobile - in person. You can even join up on one of the mobile libraries. If you want to borrow physical books, you'll need to take along proof of ID. Once you're a member, you can borrow up to 12 items at a time with no charge for late returns.
