A Robert Gordon University (RGU) Professor has been announced as a Patron of the Pluscarden Abbey Appeal.
During 2016 Professor Peter Reid, professor of librarianship at the university, has been working closely with Pluscarden Abbey as they develop their plans for a major new building.
In recognition of his hard work he has now been announced as a Patron of the appeal, which is a major project to rebuild the south range of the abbey, based in Moray. Other Patrons of the Abbey Appeal include Princess Michael of Kent, Countess Cawdor and renowned composer Sir James MacMillan.
The medieval abbey is a major tourist attraction, catering for 15,000 visitors and 400 guests each year. However, women must currently stay in a guest house about 300 metres away.
The appeal aims to rectify that situation by rebuilding of the monastery’s entire south range which will include accommodation for women on retreat, a new refectory and kitchen for all the resident guests and for public lectures and presentations.
The new building, which will cost more than £5million, will also see the abbey’s collection of 40,000 books brought together into one library and opened to the public for the first time.
Professor Reid is a leading authority of library management and regularly undertakes work on behalf of the Scottish Government and local authorities in connection with public library quality enhancement. He has published widely on public libraries, historical bibliography and library history and on local studies librarianship and local history. He also holds a PhD which examined historic libraries and was a combination of historical bibliography and heritage policy.
He said: “I’m delighted and honoured to have been asked to become a Patron of the Pluscarden Abbey Appeal.
“It is such a special, unique place and this development will significantly enhance it both for the monastic community and the many people who visit the Abbey each year.”