After work I always have a lot of time to spare before the next bus home. Today I decided to visit the library, which is almost next to the cafe. This is one of the stained glass windows in the entrance hall, designed by Stephen Adam from Glasgow. It depicts the archangel Michael, patron saint of Dumfries Burgh. "A' Loreburn" is the town cry, said to be shouted when the town was attacked. The Loreburn also flows beneath the library. 

In 1898, Andrew Carnegie offered the town council £10,000 for the building of a library (one of over 2500 which he helped to fund worldwide). It was officially opened in 1904.

The library is named after William Ewart, MP for Dumfries from 1841 until 1868. It was he who originated and carried the act which gave free libraries to the people of the United Kingdom.

The first librarian at the Ewart Library was George Shirley, a young man of 24. He was responsible for setting up the tradition of Guid Nychburris and died in 1939 at the age of 60.

I'm a big fan of public libraries. Today I spent time looking at a large book of photographs of Barack Obama's time in office, by Pete Souza. Then I got reading about the rugs which different presidents have had made for the Oval Office. Obama's had his favourite quotes emblazoned around the perimeter.

Apologies for all this info, but I enjoyed my brief quest for knowledge :-) Afterwards I walked across town to catch the bus. I'd kept Strava running all day and apparently I have clocked up over 8 miles!

Have a good weekend, everybody!