The Morrab Library has been working with a team of volunteers since 2021 to digitise our catalogue of books. The project will see our card catalogue converted into an online index to all of our c.70,000 volumes.

On the occasion of celebrating the 30th anniversary of our friends at The Hypatia Trust, and to remember library member and great advocate of the Morrab, the late Melissa Hardie, we are delighted to announce that the contents of the Elizabeth Treffry Room are now available to search online: here.

This special collection of fiction and non-fiction books by and about Cornish women was donated to The Morrab Library by Melissa in 2018. For the first time, all books in the room are now not only searchable online but can also be borrowed by library members.

The Library also holds The Hypatia Trust Archive collection, an important assortment of primary and secondary resources relating to women with a connection to Cornwall, also donated by Melissa. More details of our holdings can be found in this document: here. 

Events

A weekend of events hosted by The Morrab Library, the Hypatia Trust and our neighbours at The Gardeners’ House has been planned for July 2026.

A Celebration of Melissa’s legacy in the Elizabeth Treffry Collection at The Morrab Library. On Friday 24th (11.30am -1.30pm ) and Saturday 25th July (11am -5pm), Phil Budden and Maggi Livingstone from The Hypatia Trust will offer free, drop-in tours of the Elizabeth Treffry Collection at The Morrab Library.

Visit The Hypatia Trust (map here) for the ‘Rooms of Her Own: The Hypatia Trust 30th Anniversary Celebration’ on Friday 24th July from 6.30pm to 9pm. The Melissa Hardie-Budden Archive will be open from 15th July to 1st September 2026 (Wednesdays – Sundays, 12-3pm).

Or pop round to see our neighbours at The Gardeners’ House to see the exhibition ‘Passion for Nature: Celebrating the legacy of Melissa Hardie-Budden’. The Exhibition features visuals and a “still life” related to the archives from The Hypatia Trust that are now housed at The Gardeners’ House, with a focus on the Hypatia Publications’ ‘Passion for Nature’ book. Drop-in on Friday 24th July (11am to 3.00pm) and Saturday 25th July (11:00am to 2:00pm.)