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Reference and local history

Special collections

Highland Libraries’ Special Collections showcase unique material reflecting notable individuals, the rich culture and history of the Highlands, and its places and traditions. Inverness Reference Library holds several collections of both local and national significance, complemented by important collections located in our libraries across the Highlands.

Inverness Reference Library

Rows of wooden bookshelves filled with old, worn books in various sizes and colors, creating a vintage library setting.

Charles Fraser-MacKintosh collection

The collection of Charles Fraser Mackintosh offers a unique insight into Victorian life in the Inverness and the Highlands.

Cape Breton collection

A twinning partnership between Highland Libraries and Cape Breton Regional Library to share knowledge and cultural understanding.

Steep-sided gorge with rocky slopes and patches of heather, leading to a narrow stream at the bottom. A small group of walkers is visible near the water and another person stands on the slope to the left.

Highland Geological Society

The Highland Geological Society collection holds books and journals on geology and earth sciences.

A row of dark green hardback volumes titled ‘Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness’ arranged on a wooden shelf, showing various volumes from the early 1900s.

Gaelic Society of Inverness

Gaelic Society of Inverness promotes and preserves Gaelic language, arts, and heritage in the Highlands.

Row of worn maroon hardback volumes titled ‘Transactions of the Inverness Scientific Society and Field Club,’ showing various early volumes lined on a shelf.

Inverness Field Club

The Inverness Field Club collection features titles on natural history, geology, archaeology, and local history.

A close-up view of shelves filled with tightly packed rows of large, worn leather-bound books, many with raised bands on the spines and faded labels, showing the age and historic character of the collection.

The Kirk Session

The Kirk Session Library began in the 18th century as part of the Church of Scotland’s library network across the Highlands.

Books on a library shelf about the Loch Ness Monster and sea creatures, with various colourful spines and titles visible.

Loch Ness Monster collection

Titles about the Loch Ness Monster and related Highlands and global folklore.

Scottish Community Drama Association (SCDA)

Putting the community centre stage. Access plays and resources related to volunteer-led theatre arts in Scotland.

Collections at other Highland Libraries

North of Scotland Archaeological Society (NoSAS) Library

NoSAS Library within the Dingwall Community Library including books, reports and journals related to Highland archaeology.

John Mowat collection - Wick Library

Mowat compiled comprehensive references on Caithness, preserving its rich history, geography, archaeology and literature.

Black‑and‑white illustration of a small historic town with stone buildings clustered around open streets. A large cathedral with a tall spire stands on the left, and a square tower—described as the remaining tower of the old castle—stands to the right. Low clouds stretch across the sky above the town.

Dornoch collection - Dornoch Library

Covering Gaelic literature, Sutherland and Caithness heritage, Celtic folklore, early travel writing, and natural history.

A row of tall wooden library cabinets with glass doors displaying books, folders, and archival materials along a quiet library corridor.

Robert MacDonald collection - Portree Library

Featuring The Celtic Magazine, Gaelic poetry, traditional verse and dance, and the natural history of Scotland’s west coast.

Calm freshwater loch in the foreground reflecting the sky, with patches of reeds near the shore. Rolling brown and green moorland rises behind the water. Snow‑covered mountain peaks stand tall in the background under a pale blue sky.

Dualchas collection - Skye & Lochalsh Archive Centre

Comprise a wide range of material, including photographs, archaeology, postcards, paper archives, antiquarian books.

Engraved portrait of a seated figure with wavy hair, wrapped in a textured patterned shawl and holding an open book. The background is plain. Text beneath the image reads ‘HUGH MILLER.

Miller collection - Thurso Library

Books on Scottish geologist Hugh Miller, whose inspired scientific insight revealed the deep history of Scotland’s ancient rocks.

Online digitisation projects and collections

Am Baile Highland History Project Gutenberg Google Books The Internet Archive British Library National Library of Scotland

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