A guide for users and collection management policy
Historical background
Iona Abbey has a long and proud tradition as a place of faith and learning. From the sixth century Columba’s great Scriptorium produced illuminated manuscripts and gathered precious books into Iona’s first library. Around the year 1200 Ranald, Lord of the Isles, transformed the Columban monastery into a Benedictine Abbey and the monks’ library, above the Chapter House, continued the tradition of learning and scholarly activity on Iona. Following the Reformation the Abbey buildings fell into desuetude and eventual ruin, despite the desire of Charles I to make the Abbey the diocesan Cathedral of the Isles.
On a visit to Iona in 1773, Samuel Johnson famously observed:
That man is little to be envied whose patriotism would not gain force upon the plain of Marathon, or whose piety would not grow warmer among the ruins of Iona.
In 1899 the eighth Duke of Argyll established the Iona Cathedral Trust, passing ownership of the ruined Abbey buildings to the Trust in the hope that, in time, the ancient heritage might be restored. By 1905 the Trustees had re-roofed and restored the chancel area and services were held there again; by 1913 the nave was restored and the whole Abbey Church used again for worship.
In the 1930s the Rev. George MacLeod approached the Trustees with a proposal to form a residential ‘Iona Community’ and restore the domestic and residential buildings of the Abbey. The Trustees gave their consent, the Iona Community was established in 1938 and over the ensuing years the work of restoration proceeded. This included the Abbey library above the Chapter House.
Purpose of the current Library
The Trustees are pleased to meet the specific requirement of the Rev Robert Ritchie’s bequest that ‘access to this library is to be made available to the islanders of Iona, visitors thereto and generally to students of History’.
The collection
- The library holds a ‘significant collection’ as defined by the National Library of Scotland. It consists of around 620 titles, the earliest of which dates from the 16th Century. The focus of the collection is on Iona, the island and its history.
The collection includes:
- Historical items and ephemera that trace the history of Scotland from the earliest times to the present day.
- An important Gaelic collection, including books and manuscripts from the 19th Century.
- The Robert and Alexander Ritchie collection, bequeathed under their wills dated, respectively, 10 October 1923 and 8 June 1940.
The Ritchies also left capital funds for the maintenance of the library and the acquisition of additional volumes. In recent years, the Trustees have undertaken conservation work on the volumes in the collection where necessary, supported by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. This support enabled the installation of new, bespoke lockable presses, as well as facilities for researchers and other library users.
The Trustees ensure that the collection is maintained in appropriate ambient environmental conditions and that individual volumes are conserved where and when necessary.
Visiting and access
The Abbey Library sits within a complex of buildings operated by Historic Environment Scotland and occupied by the Iona Community; arranging visits and use of the library takes this into account:
- Visits are by appointment. Please be aware that users may be required to provide proof of identity and address, when making an appointment, or prior to accessing the library, all at the discretion of the Librarian.
- Regrettably, due to the layout of the building, it is not possible to offer level access to the library for wheelchairs.
The Trustees request that users give advance notice of at least 48 hours. Access can be arranged by contacting: iona.abbey.heritage.library@gmail.com or using the form online at http://www.iona-cathedral.org.uk
To make best of use of the library, users are encouraged to consult the library catalogue electronically in advance:
https://uhi.on.worldcat.org/advancedsearch hosted by the University of the Highlands and Islands, or: http://www.iona-cathedral.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IAHC-Catalogue-upload.pdf
Users of the Abbey Library are expected to adhere to the following conditions:
- Bring as few personal possessions as possible, and no food or drink.
- Use only pencils and not pens or sharp objects.
- Laptops can be used – power is available.
- If in doubt, please ask the Librarian.
Users have access to Wi-Fi within the library. The Librarian will provide details if required during your visit.
While access is free, visitors and users are invited to support through the Abbey Library by an appropriate donation (please contact either the Librarian or the Clerk)
Collection management policy
The Abbey Library has a finite space: it currently consists of 623 volumes and can hold approximately 900 volumes. From time to time, it will be appropriate to add books and other materials to fill important gaps and/or contribute to enabling a greater understanding in its subject areas:
Iona: archaeology, nature, religion, architecture, culture and social history.
Scotland: archaeology, culture and history, particularly associated with Iona and St. Columba.
Gaelic: non-fiction literature, poetry; and fiction, where relevant to Iona.
In addition to newly published and other books in print, antiquarian and second-hand volumes within the above categories will be considered as and when available for purchase directly from a seller. Prospective purchases at auction will only be contemplated following discussion between the Trustees, Trust Secretary and Treasurer and where appropriate, taking specialist advice.
Only in exceptional circumstances, such as a different edition which includes significant revisions, will second or other copies of a particular work be added to the collection.
Multimedia, digital or similar material will be considered where and when they are deemed to add significantly to the collection, mindful that formats change over time and that appropriate technology would be needed to make them accessible to library users.
Appropriate volumes and other material which meet the above criteria will be acquired through purchase or donation. There will be a presumption against the making of or acceptance of loans.