Innerpeffray Library

Innerpeffray Library was the first lending library in Scotland. 

David Drummond, 3rd Lord Maderty of Perthshire, founded the library in 1680 by taking the unprecedented step of making his own precious collection of books available to the public free of charge, and creating a fund to pay for their maintenance.

He envisaged reading and learning being attainable by ordinary, working people, and so Scotland’s first free public lending library was born.

Over the centuries, people have wandered through the library’s doors in pursuit of knowledge, education and fun. It holds one of Europe’s oldest surviving examples of a borrowers’ register, a fascinating record of those taking out a library book between 1747 and 1968.

The library was used by the local community until 1968 and, today, you can still read the rare and wonderful books in its collection and take a guided tour of the site.

It’s advisable to book your visit to the library in advance online, and visitors can currently enjoy a range of self-service hot or cold drinks in the pop-up café situated in the adjacent Victorian schoolroom.

The library also holds events throughout the year: exhibitions, children’s storytelling, readings by local authors and poets, music recitals and much more.