Serving Berneray, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay and Barra Museum nan Eilean is the museums service operated by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Established in Stornoway in the mid 1980's, Museum nan Eilean expanded it's service in 1989 by creating the post of Museums Officer for the islands of Berneray, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay and Barra. Currently based at Sgoil Lionacleit in Benbecula, Museum nan Eilean operates the exhibition area adjacent to the Library and supervises the Council's collection stored at the facility in Torlum. The Museums Officer, Dana Macleod has an office upstairs in the newly converted Education and Leisure accommodation, formerly known as the Janitors House at Sgoil Lionacleit.

In that time, there have been major developments and improvements in the local cultural landscape in the southern part of the Western Isles - 'Dualchais' the Barra Heritage & Cultural Centre in Castlebay, Taigh-tasgaidh Chill Donnain in South Uist; Taigh Chearsabhagh in Lochmaddy and shortly, Nunton Steadings in Benbecula will join the list. What all these ventures have in common are local historical societies, known as Comainn Eachdraidh. Through sheer determination and thoughtful ambition, the volunteers involved in the Comainn Eachdraidh movement, linked with the professional management of their projects by the Southern Isles Amenity Trust, can now all claim ownership of first class venues.

However, as many Comainn Eachdraidh members will agree the hard work doesn't end with the creation or renovation of a building. The core purpose of their work is to document social change within the islands, This is a constant and demanding task that they endeavour to do with limited resources and largely volunteer effort. Subsequently, it is an important part of the work of Museum nan Eilean and the Museums Officer to support these local groups through advice and practical assistance.