Innerpeffray Library was the first lending library in Scotland.[1] It is located in the hamlet of Innerpeffray, by the River Earn in Perth and Kinross, 3 miles (4.8 km) southeast of Crieff. The library building is Category A listed.[2]
Innerpeffray consists of an early complete and very important group of educational and religious buildings, all founded, built or rebuilt by the Drummond family of Strathearn.
The library was founded by David Drummond, 3rd Lord Madertie (died 1692), before 1680, when he made 400 of his family books available to the public. The library was originally located in the loft of St Mary's Chapel, and moved into a purpose-built library house in 1762. This was built by Robert Hay Drummond (1711-1776), Archbishop of York from 1761 to 1776, and a descendent of Lord Madertie, who also donated his book collection on his death. The library ceased lending in 1968, but remains open to the public several days a week, except for November to February.[1]
The library has a continuous borrowing record from 1747 to 1968.
Since 1694 the collection has been administered by a charitable trust, the Innerpeffray Mortification. Book inspection is still free but entrance is charged so that the Governors of the Innerpeffray Mortification can maintain the buildings and conserve the collections in good condition. When Lord Madertie built and endowed his school and library pre 1680, his 400 books contained all the knowledge in the world, in English, Latin, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. By the time he died in 1776, Archbishop Robert's collection of books on law, history/geography, maths (Newton), agriculture, the enlightenment, and social comment, had similar breadth.
The Keeper of Books (now Library Manager), an office held continuously since Andrew Patoune in 1692, lives in the schoolhouse (rebuilt 1847). The six sash windows of the attached schoolroom light its interior for meetings of Friends and visiting schoolchildren.
The Keeper also holds the key of the Collegiate Chapel of St Mary, at Her Majesty's pleasure. By 1508, John 1st Lord Drummond rebuilt this renaissance triple cube with its oblong windows, stately proportions , wall and ceiling paintings, Drummond family hatchments and medieval stone altar. David Lord Madertie rebuilt the west end, pre - 1680, over the arch to house his library in an upper room. Access is free, occasional tours provided. Historic Scotland authorises weddings. The Library's Friends (and local schools) stage musical and dramatic events.