Participants of the 2023 Librarians’ Tour of Scotland, led by iSchool Continuing Education Program Managers Casey Ineichen (third from right) and Meredith Lowe (far right). Photo taken at the Commando Memorial in the Scottish Highlands. Photos provided by iSchool staff.
In September, the iSchool’s continuing education team led the latest installment of a decades-old tradition: the Librarians’ Tour of Scotland. Sixteen library and museum professionals, including two iSchool alumni, took part in what was the first Librarians’ Tour of Scotland since 2019. Meredith Lowe and Casey Ineichen, the iSchool’s continuing education program managers, led the 10-day trip, which explored libraries, archives, and museums across Scotland, including in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and beyond.
The trip gives participants an international perspective on the library profession, in addition to opportunities to explore fascinating and historic places related to their field and develop relationships with peers in the process. Highlights of the 2023 trip included visiting the National Library of Scotland’s Moving Image Archive in Glasgow, which preserves and digitizes films and other moving image formats from across the United Kingdom.
The Librarians’ Tour of Scotland at the National Library of Scotland’s Moving Image Archive in Glasgow. Photos provided by iSchool staff.
Participants also got a behind-the-scenes tour of historic Innerpeffray Library, Scotland’s first free public lending library, established in the late 1600s. Today, the library houses a diverse collection of rare books as well as Borrowers’ Registers, which document every person who checked out a book between 1747 and 1968.
Viewing collection items at the Innerpeffray Library. Photos provided by iSchool staff.
In addition, the group visited the National Library of Scotland’s Map Reading Room in Edinburgh. They were able to tour the building (originally a biscuit factory), learn about their digital preservation efforts and get a close look at some fascinating maps in the reading room.
Viewing maps at the National Library of Scotland’s Map Reading Room. Photos provided by iSchool staff.
The tour also made a day trip to the Scottish Highlands, where they enjoyed the picturesque landscape, fed highland cows, and paid a visit to the famous Loch Ness.
Feeding cows in the Scottish Highlands. Photos provided by iSchool staff.
The next Librarians’ Tour of Scotland has been scheduled for May 26 – June 5, 2024.
If you’re interested in joining a future Librarians’ Tour of Scotland, join this email list for the latest updates.