Special Collections

OnFife looks after several special collections of rare and important items on behalf of the public. The Murison Burns and George Reid Collections are part of  Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries. The George Normand Collection can be viewed at Cupar Library.

The Murison Burns Collection: a major collection of books about and by Robert Burns and memorabilia of his life and work collected by John Murison and bought for the people of Dunfermline by Sir Alexander Gibb in 1921.

The George Reid Collection: A rich and diverse small library donated by a local specialist whose passion was collecting exquisite editions of some very well known books, unique medieval manuscripts and decorated books of hours. 

The George Normand Collection came from the local postmaster in Cupar at the start of the 20th century.  He collected magic lantern slides of local people and local places as part of an entertainment act that he took round the local area before the days of radio and TV.  We have the original magic lantern he used and high quality paper copies have been made of all his slides.