Special collections
A number of special collections have been donated to the library service over the years and are now housed in the local studies section. The most important are:
William Soutar Collection
The personal library of the Perth poet Willie Soutar who, having been bed-ridden from early adulthood, developed into one of the great literary figures of twentieth century Scotland.
Mackintosh Collection
Around 2000 volumes with a theological bias, some dating from the 1500s, collected by an eighteenth century Scottish episcopal clergyman.
Atholl Collection
Consisting of around 600 books and manuscripts of Scottish music, some from the seventeenth century, this has been described as one of the most important collections of its kind in existence. A catalogue was published in 1999 and is available from the library service at a cost of £4.95 plus postage.
Perth and Kinross Sound Archive
This consists of many hours of recorded conversations between field workers and elderly residents of rural Perthshire, some of which have been transcribed. Topics include farming, fishing and many other aspects of rural life. The archive also includes several hundred photographs.
