Library, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk

The library on Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, was originally built in 1803 as a fortified jail, with significant alterations and additions made in 1888 and later. It is a three-storey, six-bay building constructed with a mix of pebbledash and ashlar dressings, with red sandstone used for the later Baronial style additions. A corbelled string course runs between the second and low, jettied third storeys, and the corners are accentuated with long and short quoins. Many windows have decorative 'tails.'

The north-west elevation, facing Ettrick Terrace, is asymmetrically arranged in a 1-4-1 bay format. A notable gap exists between the first and second floors of the central four-bay section. Segmental-arched windows are situated above each bay on the second floor. Ground and first-floor windows are present in each bay of the four-bay group, except for a blank space at ground level in the bay to the far left, and a corbelled, red sandstone, half-piended, three-light canted window on the first floor of the bay to the far right. A three-storey, single-bay group is positioned to the right, while a two-storey, single-bay group is at the far left, incorporating red sandstone dressings and coping. A corbelled turret rises above the eaves on the far left of this section, with a bipartite window on the first floor.

On the south-west elevation, a three-bay arrangement features a central turret that corbels outwards from the first floor, with a window on each storey and a corbelled eaves course. A stepped hoodmould is formed over the first and second-floor windows on the bay to the left. The bay to the right is blank, with a blank elevation of a projection forming a re-entrant angle.

The south-east elevation, facing Chapel Street, displays a two-storey, two-part building set before the main structure. This section has pebbledash with red sandstone dressings, including a base course, band course, and eaves course, along with quoins. A pedimented, slightly advanced bay is centrally located on the left section, featuring a full-height projection with windows on each floor and a return door on the north-east elevation. A window is present on each floor of the bay to the right, and a ground-floor window is situated to the far left. The bay to the far left is slightly set back, within a re-entrant angle, and is single-storey with coping and a blank facade except for a window on its chamfered south elevation. A projecting bay on the right side has two small windows at ground level, with a window above them.

A screen wall, oriented to the south and west, is constructed of harled material with red sandstone coping and dressings. The wall is stepped and incorporates a corbelled parapet at the top of the south elevation, featuring two blinded roundels, likely gunholes. The west wall is castellated.

The building has a variety of window types, including plate glass, 12-pane timber sash and case windows, and some fixed-pane windows. Many windows retain iron bars. The roof is slate, with coped crowstepped gables. A candlesnuffer roof is present on the north-west elevation, topped with a cast-iron finial, while the turret's candlesnuffer roof on the south-west elevation features fish-scale slates and a cast-iron finial. A crowstepped dormer is located above the bay to the inner left, with a segmental-arched opening.

The interior was substantially altered in 1995. Boundary walls are constructed of whinstone rubble with coped tops. The entrance arch is built of squared and snecked stugged sandstone, featuring strip pilasters and coping that step up to the centre. It has a round-arched opening with a plaque above reading "Public Library and Reading Room 1888" and a round plaque displaying the Selkirk Coat-of-Arms.