Books and Pamphlets
We have an extensive collection of books and pamphlets covering Scottish history and the local history of Perth & Kinross. The collection is constantly being added to and can be searched in the Library Catalogue, below.
Most books are housed on open shelves for reference within the department and many of the most popular titles are also available for short-term loan. For conservation reasons, pamphlets and some of our rarer or more fragile books are kept in our store and you will need to request access to them from staff. Within the book and pamphlet collection, there are sub-collections on particular themes. Some of the most popular are described below.
Directories
We hold a large run of directories dating from the late-eighteenth to late-twentieth century. The amount of information held varies considerably and generally becomes more detailed later. They almost always list local businesses and landed gentry, but in later years often include every house-holder living in an area, listed by name and street, as well local clubs and organisation and their committee members.
School Yearbooks, Magazines and Newsletters
We hold a large collection of school yearbooks, magazines and newsletters for schools in Perth & Kinross, dating from the 1920s to the present day. Some of these collections are included in the library catalogue, but not all, so if you are looking for something specific, please ask a member of staff.
Community Publications
We hold a large collection of magazines and pamphlets produced by local history societies and other community groups, dating from the early twentieth century to the present day. These contain interesting articles on a wide range of subjects that may not be found elsewhere. Most of this material is not yet catalogued, but staff can guide you to titles that may be of interest to your local area.
Church Magazines
Many local churches and religious institutions of all denominations produce magazines for their congregations. We actively collect any church magazines and have a large collection dating back into the early 20th century. These publications contain snippets of interesting information on the local area, as well as routine information about church and parish activities. Most of this material is not yet catalogued, but staff can guide you to titles that may be of interest.
Journals and Periodicals
We hold an interesting and varied collection of journals and periodicals covering local and national issues. One of the finest series is a full set of Proceedings and Transactions of The Perthshire Society of Natural Science which runs from 1880 to the present day. The Society was founded in 1867 with the aim of encouraging interest in the natural sciences through lectures meetings and outings.
Its Proceedings and Transactions contain fascinating articles on zoology, entomology, botany, arboriculture, geology, archaeology, antiquities and much more. The Society has also amassed a library of around 2,500 books, mostly published in the nineteenth century and with a focus on natural sciences. The library is housed in Perth Art Gallery and access can be arranged through the Secretary. Details on their website.
Local Authors
The Local Authors Collection covers fiction and non-fiction authors who live within Perth & Kinross, have a distinct connection with the area, or whose book/s have a link to the area, for example if a novel is set in Perth. These books are included in the library catalogue.