Where
Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway
What
The museum and visitor centre is set in the middle of Wanlockhead village. The visitor centre and exhibition area are housed in the original blacksmith's workshop and there are also two period cottages, a leadmine and a miners' library
Opened
The Wanlockhead Museum Trust was established in 1974 and the extended visitor centre and exhibition area opened in 1992
Collection
The Miners' Library, founded in 1756, is the second-oldest subscription library in Europe. The collection was recently acknowledged as a Recognised Collection of National Significance for its collection of books dating from 1616.
The oldest book in the collection is the Whole Armour of God by William Gouge and the library also contains an early copy of the Koran. The majority of the books were bought by the miners themselves, who raised the £126 to build a new home for the library, which opened in 1851.
The museum also has one of the biggest mineral displays in Scotland - 4 per cent of the world's minerals can be found in the local area, which is known as God's Treasure House - and it recently acquired a new mineral collection worth £8,000 that will go on display when the museum reopens to the public after its closed season.
The museum also has a leadmine where visitors can go underground and experience the working conditions of miners in the 18th century
Help at hand
In peak season there are approximately 20 staff; in the closed season just three
Budget
Core funding of just under £40,000 comes from Dumfries and Galloway Council; the rest has to be raised
Visitors
The museum is remote and is only open seven months a year, but still manages to average 12,000 visitors
Survival tip
Museum manager Maria Muir says: "It is important to have good staff around you, and at the museum we are fortunate to have excellent and enthusiastic staff and volunteers who help to make the visitor experience that bit more special."
Highlight
Muir says that getting recognition for the library - and the £40,000 that goes with it - will help employ a researcher to make the book collection more accessible
Sticky moment
"This time last year we didn't know if we'd open again," says Muir. Thankfully the Scottish Executive came up with some extra cash and Muir now says that although money is still tight, they are doing OK
Current project
The visitor centre is being updated and the new mineral collection will go on display in time for the reopening on 21 March
Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway
What
The museum and visitor centre is set in the middle of Wanlockhead village. The visitor centre and exhibition area are housed in the original blacksmith's workshop and there are also two period cottages, a leadmine and a miners' library
Opened
The Wanlockhead Museum Trust was established in 1974 and the extended visitor centre and exhibition area opened in 1992
Collection
The Miners' Library, founded in 1756, is the second-oldest subscription library in Europe. The collection was recently acknowledged as a Recognised Collection of National Significance for its collection of books dating from 1616.
The oldest book in the collection is the Whole Armour of God by William Gouge and the library also contains an early copy of the Koran. The majority of the books were bought by the miners themselves, who raised the £126 to build a new home for the library, which opened in 1851.
The museum also has one of the biggest mineral displays in Scotland - 4 per cent of the world's minerals can be found in the local area, which is known as God's Treasure House - and it recently acquired a new mineral collection worth £8,000 that will go on display when the museum reopens to the public after its closed season.
The museum also has a leadmine where visitors can go underground and experience the working conditions of miners in the 18th century
Help at hand
In peak season there are approximately 20 staff; in the closed season just three
Budget
Core funding of just under £40,000 comes from Dumfries and Galloway Council; the rest has to be raised
Visitors
The museum is remote and is only open seven months a year, but still manages to average 12,000 visitors
Survival tip
Museum manager Maria Muir says: "It is important to have good staff around you, and at the museum we are fortunate to have excellent and enthusiastic staff and volunteers who help to make the visitor experience that bit more special."
Highlight
Muir says that getting recognition for the library - and the £40,000 that goes with it - will help employ a researcher to make the book collection more accessible
Sticky moment
"This time last year we didn't know if we'd open again," says Muir. Thankfully the Scottish Executive came up with some extra cash and Muir now says that although money is still tight, they are doing OK
Current project
The visitor centre is being updated and the new mineral collection will go on display in time for the reopening on 21 March