The community run Leighton library already provides a unique experience through a volunteer run first person interpretation and a rare opportunity to handle books dating back to the 16th century.

But how can the library reach beyond its existing audiences and connect with wider demographics in the local community and beyond?

The answers lie in a collection which provides a far reaching, sometimes radical window into how Scottish society understood itself and the world around it.

From the tumultuous era of religious strife and contestation the library was born out of, the mapping, exploration and sometimes exploitation of far-flung lands, questions of indelible rights, morality and basic freedoms to the origins of popular culture the Leighton collection spans the building of a modern society.

By using the themes found in the collection, visitors are invited to reflect on the legacies of this history including colonialism, slavery and racism. But also consider how echoes of contemporary issues including religious intolerance, inequality and conflict are present in historic contexts.

The plan builds on the existing community focus of the library, broadening this out to encompass co-created interpretive projects with school groups building narratives around the extensive 19th century borrowing records, using an exploration of the reading habits and interests of subscribers to build understandings of the historic context.