Now online! Our research review 🔬📜 We have more than 50 research projects under way at any given time at the Library. For a taste of what we do, check out our Research Review 2024–25.

Our 'Treasures' exhibition is closed and will re-open with a refreshed look and new things to see on Monday 27 April. We can't wait to welcome you back to the new space! In the meantime, the rest of our Visitor Centre remains open, including our cafe, 'Dear Library' exhibition, and shop.

We are delighted to share that our Scots Scriever, Taylor Dyson, will be hosting 'Untold Stories: Women’s Conversations' at the Webster Memorial Theatre on Friday, 28 March. This free event will celebrate the importance of amplifying unheard voices from Scotland through film, poetry, and speech.

This #MapMonday we're heading across the Irish Sea! ☘️ Our newly added OS Six-Inch maps of Ireland were printed around 1860. The 1,940 sheets update the original 1830s surveys, adding railways, new field boundaries, and more detailed place names. 🔗: maps.nls.uk/os/6inch-ire...

Today we're celebrating World Sleep Day by raiding our shelves for fairy tales! But be warned, the path to dreamland isn't always peaceful - especially for one fairy tale princess 🧵👑 Have a look at some depictions of 'Sleeping Beauty' from our collections.

Did you know that we run a Carbon Literacy for Libraries course? ♻️ The course is designed to provide librarians with an introduction to carbon literacy and empower them to support climate action. It celebrates the sustainable model of libraries and how they can support others to cut emissions.

This #MapMonday, book your place for our 'Maps for Family and Local History Workshop' to learn about different types of historic maps and how to view them on our maps website 🗺️ 📌 Online 📆 Wednesday 11 March, 10-11am 🎟️ Free Book your tickets > www.nls.uk/whats-on/map...

For #WorldBookDay, we thought we'd take you on a tour of some of our fictional maps 🗺️ Can you work out which book each of these are from? 🤔

We’re taking over the AK Bell Library on Saturday for a free day-long celebration of stories, libraries, and history! 🎉 Don’t miss the chance to see Mary Queen of Scots’ last letter on display at Perth Museum, then pop in to see us for a day packed with talks, games, storytelling, and more.

How much have our coastlines changed in the last century? 🌊 Our georeferenced map viewer allows you to directly compare maps from history with the present day. In this example, you can see Great Cowden on the Yorkshire coast, where the shoreline has receded around 200 metres over the last century.

This #MapMonday we have even #MoreMaps for you! 🗺️✨ We've georeferenced the 1,329 first edition Six-inch maps of England and Wales we added in November. Now you can use a special toggle button in our viewers to compare these maps side-by-side. Explore the new tool > maps.nls.uk/additions/#194

Coming to see Mary Queen of Scots’ last letter at Perth Museum next Saturday? Make a day of it by visiting us at AK Bell Library too! 👑 There's something on for everyone: 🪙 10:30am: Scotland's tourist treasures at the National Library 🎥 11:30am: Scenes and sounds of Scotland's ancient capital ...

What if the Jacobite cause had a queer history we were never told about? 🌈 In our new long-read, researcher and writer Indigo Dunphy-Smith takes us on a journey from Aberdeenshire’s estates to the art circles of Rome.

Celebrate Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) with us! 🗣️ ...through our collections 🏛️ We're currently showing items that tell the story of Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair (Alexander MacDonald, c.1698–c.1770), a schoolmaster, poet, and Jacobite captain.

Ever wondered what secrets lie in a map? 🗺️ Join us for a day dedicated to all things cartographic. Get a behind-the-scenes look at our map collections, attend talks, and get hands-on with our drop-in activities! 📅 6 February 2026 ⏰ 10:30am-4:00pm Plan your visit > www.nls.uk/whats-on/map...

What? Exploring the Legacy of Mary, Queen of Scots But really, what? A display of original material from Robert Burns and Liz Lochhead exploring Mary’s story and legacy Where? AK Bell Library, Perth When? From today, Friday 23 January How to visit? www.culturepk.org.uk/library/ak-b... How much? Free

What? The Last Letter of Mary, Queen of Scots Where? Perth Museum. When? From today, 23 January Why? A rare chance to see an evocative treasure and a legendary piece of Scottish history. How? perthmuseum.co.uk/plan-your-vi... 📷 Julie Howden

We were delighted to welcome Her Majesty The Queen to the Library today. The Queen was here to officially launch the National Year of Reading in Scotland. Led by the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust, the UK-wide campaign aims to help people rediscover the joy of reading.

📜 A queen's final words. In one week, Mary, Queen of Scots' last letter, written just six hours before her execution, goes on public display in a once-in-a-generation exhibition at Perth Museum.

This #MapMonday we're taking you back in time ⌛ We've just added over 9,000 out of copyright Ordnance Survey maps published in 1975 to our Map Images website. What did your neighbourhood look like fifty years ago? 🗺️ 🔗: maps.nls.uk/additions/#191 #MoreMaps

We're taking a break from social media until 5 January and wish you a peaceful festive season ❄️ Please view our website for our festive opening hours > www.nls.uk/visit/season... Ask about our collections and services > auth.nls.uk/contact/ask-... See you in 2026! 🎆

From 23 January, Perth Museum will be showing one of the jewels in our collections – Mary, Queen of Scots’ Last Letter 📜✒️

A happy #MapMonday to our followers. Can we tempt you with early maps of Great Britain and Ireland, just added to our website? maps.nls.uk/additions/#190 Including this stunning Palaeontological map of the British Islands, 1849, created A.K. Johnston from the papers of Professor Edward Forbes.

This #MapMonday we celebrate an amazing crowd-sourced project, the Second Land Utilisation Survey of Great Britain. Directed by Professor Alice Coleman, the project involved over 3,000 volunteers, including university students and schoolchildren. Explore the maps > maps.nls.uk/additions/#189

We're hosting a Scavenger Hunt as part of the @natlibscot.bsky.social #LoveLibraries campaign. Explore the Library, solve fun clues, and you could win this goodie bag full of Library goodies. We'll randomly select a winner from all correct entries #LoveYourLibrary forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...

This #MapMonday let us take you back in time ⌛ We've just added first edition 6-inch to the mile Ordnance Survey maps of England and Wales to our website, published from the 1840s to 1880s. These maps are all from bound volumes. Explore the maps > maps.nls.uk/additions/#188

Let's talk libraries! 🔍 Join authors Louise Welsh & Damian Barr TONIGHT for a free in-conversation event at Kelvin Hall about the libraries that shaped them. 📅 6:30-7:30pm, Wednesday, 12 November 📌 Kelvin Hall 🎟️ Free Book your tickets now > www.nls.uk/whats-on/lib...

This #MapMonday we've #MoreMaps for you to explore. We've just added Survey of India half-inch to the mile maps, published between 1915 and 1948, to our website. These cover most of India and Myanmar in colourful detail. maps.nls.uk/additions/#187 #India #HistoricMaps

It's alive! 🧟 Don't miss our Frankenstein pop-up display at the National Library TODAY until 4pm! Dive into the story behind the story with: ➡️ Mary Shelley's revealing letter to Sir Walter Scott ➡️ Rare early editions & items from our archives ➡️ Silent screenings of Scottish amateur film

Mary Shelley's time living near Dundee on the "blank and dreary northern shores of the Tay" fired her imagination 💭 It was here her "true compositions, the airy flights of my imagination, were born." Discover how Scotland shaped her novel, Frankenstein, in our article by Professor Daniel Cook.

Did you know Mary Shelley once had to correct Sir Walter Scott for crediting her novel, Frankenstein, to her husband? 🔍 For one day only, see this story on paper at the National Library: ➡️ Mary Shelley's letter to Sir Walter Scott ➡️ Rare early editions & items from our archives ➡️ and more!

We've just added more historic Ordnance Survey maps of Ireland to our website. You can now compare first edition one-inch to the mile maps dating from the 1860s to 1870s with second edition maps published between 1898 and 1902. maps.nls.uk/os/one-inch-...

This #GreenLibrariesWeek we are celebrating the amazing ecosystems of trees and forests with the Open Shelves display in the General Reading Room. Meet remarkable trees or explore the interconnected life of our woodlands. www.nls.uk/whats-on/ope...

We're excited to be taking part in the Family History Fair at Edinburgh Central Library today. Come and find us on the balcony to hear how @natlibscot can help with your family history research - and browse maps from the World Wars.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Christopher Smith as the new Chair of the National Library of Scotland Board. Learn more about the appointment > media.nls.uk/news/new-cha...

We're heading to Aberdeen! 🗺️🎞️ National Library Live, on 8 November, is a free day of talks, stories & activities. Discover maps, film, treasures & more with us and Aberdeen City Libraries. #NationalLibraryLive #Aberdeen #NLS100

This #MapMonday, explore historic maps of #Ireland! We've added new georeferenced map layers to our Maps Images Website. View first and second edition one-inch to the mile Ordnance Survey of Ireland maps in our georeferenced and side-by-side viewers 🗺️ Explore the maps > maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/...

A place for self-discovery, dancing, school-rule-breaking, romantic meet-cutes (oh, and *the* hot location for finding out the secrets of the universe). Yes, it’s the library in pop culture! Writer and editor Katie Goh explains everything from Buffy to Matilda in our latest long-read.

We have improved our links with the Allmaps project, so that any of our maps can be freely, collaboratively georeferenced and then brought back into our Georeferenced Maps viewer 🗺️ Learn more > maps.nls.uk/view/help/ #Georeference #MapMonday #Maps

Are you feeling crafty? Drop by our George IV Bridge building 2 - 4pm today for autumn crafts for all ages. Make a pinecone bird feeder, try some autumn leaf craft or relax with mindful colouring.

Explore the National Library of Scotland for Doors Open Days 🔎 This September, we're taking part in Doors Open Days. It's your chance for a free, behind-the-scenes look at our buildings. 📍 Causewayside Building 🗓️ Saturday, 27 September Go behind the scenes! Try out our library games and activities

How can libraries be places of support for everyone in a community? 🫂 Supporting the health and wellbeing of the local community is a key role of our public libraries. A hugely popular and valued information service is the one offered by Macmillan Cancer Support.

We're coming to Aberdeen! 🥳 Our OUTWITH programme kicks off this Saturday by bringing our earliest publication of Scottish secular music to Aberdeen Art Gallery (whose Cowdray Hall concert venue is also having a big birthday this year).

Bidh an t-oileanach PhD againn Ceit Langhorne a' bruidhinn aig an Leabharlann Nàiseanta a-màireach. Our PhD student Ceit Langhorne is speaking at @natlibscot.bsky.social tomorrow. 'Sgeulachdan Ghaisgeil: Scottish Gaelic heroic stories in the Scottish landscape'. https://nls.pulse.ly/qdusiaygei

Where do you go to listen to stories? 🗣️ Bookbug and storytelling sessions have been going on the road in the Borders to help reach more children and build partnerships with local organisations.

This #MapMonday can we tempt you with #MoreMaps? We've just added early maps of Scotland and Great Britain, as well as town and county plans. These maps are from our Charlotte Smith collection, acquired by the Library in 2017. maps.nls.uk/additions/#184

We’re delighted that Cricket Scotland has chosen the National Library to be the new home of their archive 🏏 The records cover the history of the Scottish Cricket Union and Cricket Scotland, from 1908 to the present day.

Reduce, reuse, recycle, repair! ♻️🧵 Free equipment to help repair, reuse and upcycle everyday items is being offered as part of a trailblazing sustainability project at libraries across Scotland.

Would you like to create lists of locations and features, and view these as distributions on our historic map layers? If so, discover new import and export tools for our Map Images Website maps.nls.uk/additions/#183 #MapMonday

Time-travel to @orkneylibrary.bsky.social in 1957 ✨📖 This clip from ‘Life in the Orkneys’ shows a box of books being packed up in Kirkwall Library to go to families on more rural islands. The box contains books for everyone in the family.