Exploring Scotland

The Scottish Library

The Scottish Library is the only public library department dedicated solely to Scotland. It holds an amazing array of material covering the nation’s past, present and future. 

We have an amazing variety of materials including books, maps, newspapers, videos, photographs, postcards, prints, periodicals, acts of Parliament, and online databases. We hope there is something for everyone whether your interest is academic, leisure or commercial.  For some the library may be a chance to consult a rare item from our Special Collections, for others an opportunity to borrow items for home use.

New stock is added either by purchase or gift.  Readers’ suggestions for additions to stock are warmly welcomed. 

There are small displays in the department which are changed periodically.  These highlight different topics.

If you want to know what we hold, then check our online catalogue for items published after 1980. Records for earlier works are often only in our card catalogue in the library.  Staff will check the card catalogue for you, if you are unable to visit in person.

Each year we answer thousands of personal, telephone, e-mail and letter enquiries using the full range of resources.  If you have an enquiry, then please contact us directly.  

For visitors doing their own research, in addition to the wealth of resources, we have  a variety of facilities to support their use including study desks, microfilm readers, photocopier, free public internet access, and a reproduction service.  You may bring your own laptop to use, if you wish.

Interested in Scotland, then the Scottish library is for you.

Return to Scottish Library contact page