Frequently asked questions

Who are you?:

Birsay books is an independent book shop, trading on the North-West tip of the Orkney Mainland.

When are you open?:

We are open Thursday and Friday at 12:00, and Saturday and Sunday at 10:00. We like to shut at 17:00, but can be persuaded to remain open. But we are also able to open for private viewings via appointment.

Are you Dog friendly?:

Yes, we are, and have three dogs of our own, two rescued and one born on the isle.

Are you child friendly?:

We are, we have books for people from crawling age up to complaining about the good old days. We also have two baskets of wooden toys and plastic animals, and a set of bowling pins, for those not looking to pick up a book.

I am movement impaired or use a wheelchair, can you accommodate me?:

Yes, we try to maintain a clear and easy to move around space, and if you are particularly concerned we can make adjustments if you get in touch.

Do you take credit cards?:

Yes, we use a payment system provided by Zettle, who are affiliated with Paypal, and support all banks which work with Paypal.

Do you take book vouchers?:

No, we’re not affiliated with any book programs.

Can I buy online?:

Yes, just email us what you are interested in and we take payment either with direct transfer, or with a one time payment link. If you need the book posted, we provide packing and shipping at cost with no additional charges. This does mean that selling outside of the UK can be expensive, but we do not charge anything above the postage quote we recieve.

Do you have parking?:

Yes, you can park in the drive-way leading up to the shop, which has room for multiple vehicles.

How does anyone find you?:

While it is a struggle to get signage in the area, we are accurately positioned on both Google and Bing maps. On non-windy days (less than 50mph) we place a flag at the end of our road, but we also have several wooden signs on the neighbouring field.

How do you get any work done with a view like that?:

We manage.