The Nature Library Finds a Permanent Home
Category: Blog, CILIPSGoGreen, News
The Scottish Maritime Museum on Irvine Harbourside has collaborated with The Nature Library to create a permanent home for the innovative and, until now, touring pop-up collection of land and environment writings. CILIPS are pleased to share the news of this collaboration, which firmly solidifies a place where nature and sustainability are integral in shaping and sustaining a library in which it’s sole purpose is to educate and be inspired by nature.
The Nature Library, which was founded in 2019 by Ayrshire-based artist, photographer and writer Christina Riley, will be housed in one of the Museum’s shipyard worker tenement flats at 122 Montgomery Street.
The brand new library, which has toured across Scotland since inception, will open with a launch weekend: 10am – 4pm Friday 3 to Sunday 5 May.
As well as enjoying the carefully curated works connecting readers to land, sky and sea at the library, visitors will also be able to borrow books. The Nature Library will also offer a regular programme of workshops, events and residencies and feature a dedicated children’s area.
Eva Bukowska, Exhibition & Events Officer at the Scottish Maritime Museum, says:
“We’re thrilled to partner with Christina and help The Nature Library develop from pop up to permanent resource at the Scottish Maritime Museum.
“The Nature Library will be a great addition for our visitors as well as an exciting new attraction for the Harbourside. We’re also looking forward to collaborating with Christina on some exciting ocean and coastal-themed activities and events over coming months.”
Christina Riley, Founder of The Nature Library, adds:
“I founded The Nature Library when I recognised that books by authors like Rachel Carson, Kathleen Jamie and Nan Shepherd were having a significant impact on my work as an artist and my actions in day-to-day life. I wanted to share books and stories like theirs which celebrate the natural world at a time when it needs our attention the most.
“Ever since the first pop up in 2019, I’ve been dreaming of a permanent space for the library. When I moved back to Ayrshire, I knew there was nowhere else I wanted it to be but Irvine Harbourside.
“It’s an honour to collaborate with the Scottish Maritime Museum and exciting to bring the library to such a special location — the street itself is named after poet, journalist and social reformer James Montgomery, while the building has housed timekeepers, butchers, bakers, a seaman, an engineer and now a librarian!
“Across the road is the Bogside Flats, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), as well as the Garnock Estuary at Ardeer, where campaigners are calling for similar environmental protection, and these local habitats will inspire the collection.
“The Nature Library also, importantly, brings one more library to the neighbourhood at a time when, despite increasing visitor numbers and studies proving that reading for leisure improves mental health, quality of life and life expectancy, more than 1 in 8 public libraries in Scotland have been forced to close since 2010.
“I won’t pretend to understand the complexities of local and national budgets, but I know that these short-term financial gains can only lead to greater long-term losses. The value of libraries can’t always be quantified in financial terms (though estimates suggest that every £1 invested in libraries returns between £5 and £7, a return of between £5bn and £6bn a year for the UK economy), but the enduring benefits to the community are priceless, not to mention that the climate crisis affects all parts of our lives and an understanding of it is something that everyone is owed free access to.”
CILIP Scotland are thrilled by this announcement, as supporters of Green Libraries across Scotland and beyond, it’s incredible to see this work being invested in and we can’t wait to see what amazing things grow from this exciting time!