Libraries

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Newhailes House, near Edinburgh

The hidden UFO history of country house near Edinburgh

Libraries are special and much-needed places (Picture: Ian Waldie)

How the Greens showed they are capable of coming up with a good idea Scotsman comment

The copy of Pigeon Pie by Nancy Mitford turned up at a library 32 years late and 450 miles away.

Scottish library book missing for 32 years turns up 450 miles away

Professor Hayden Lorimer of the University of Edinburgh looks at a light box. The boxes are being offered to library users in Glasgow as part of the Wintering Well initiative. Pic: John Devlin

Light box to combat winter blues on loan from Scottish libraries

Construction continues at the Barack Obama Presidential Center in August 2025 in Chicago, Illinois

Do we need another US presidential monumental monstrosity? Joe Goldblatt

The Portobello Bookshop took part in the survey.

The £250 'culture voucher' for teens that would help bookshops

The Women Who Wouldn’t Wheesht is a collection of gender critical essays.

Gender critical book pulled from National Library after staff complain

A general view of a bookshelf

Council rejects complaints about 'anti-trans' library books

The National Library of Scotland is based on George IV Bridge in Edinburgh.

Exclusive Inside plans to transform the century-old National Library

National Library of Scotland chief executive Amina Shah in front of the building.

Exclusive National Library plans to 'open up' iconic building to host weddings

Glasgow Library

Glasgow Library becomes first in Scotland to receive prestigious award

Jenny Niven, director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

No replacement for book festival fund puts community work at risk

Selkirk is one of the towns in the Borders that could be impacted by the potential closure of facilities

Proposed closures will 'rip the heart out of our communities'

Hawick library is one the list of potential closures

Consultants advise closing libraries and axing 50 jobs in this area

Creative workers

Ad Feature Call for more equality, diversity and inclusion in cultural sectors

Leith Theatre has reached another milestone on its journey to a bright future

Why £4.5m to save Leith Theatre means so much to locals like me Janet Christie

Val McDermid, seen with fellow author Damian Barr, at the launch of celebrations for the National Library of Scotland's 100th anniversary last month (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Val McDermid's reasoning on 'library killings' cannot be faulted Scotsman comment

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson with National Librarian Amina Shah at an event at the National Library of Scotland to celebrate its centenary year (Picture: PA)

Scotsman Letters: Culture Secretary could do much to save our libraries

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson with National Librarian Amina Shah at an event at the National Library of Scotland to celebrate its centenary year. Around 20 local libraries in Scotland are facing closure amid drop in visitor numbers, a reduction in opening hours and changing ways of consuming information.

Culture Secretary: Scotland's library cuts are 'concern for everybody'

Writer Val McDermid at the launch of the National Library of Scotland's centenary year celebrations, where she spoke passionately about the power of libraries and books to open windows to the wider world. PIC: Jane Barlow/PA Wire.

Val McDermid: 'Libraries open windows that let us all fly'

Calls have been made to protect Scotland’s libraries as fresh figures show more than 40 have closed in the last decade.

Exclusive Rural areas take biggest hit in 'deeply concerning' library closures

The public library in Muir of Ord in the Highlands

I would be stranded without libraries - closures are devastating

Libraries have been closed due to council budget cuts

'Awful' budget cuts as more Scottish public toilets and libraries axed

Alison Nolan, SLIC

£450,000 public library fund to boost inclusion and sustainability across Scotla...

The Mitchell Library in Glasgow has received a jet wash.

Watch as The Mitchell Library in Glasgow receives a satisfying clean

Elder Library and Community Hub has reopened after two years

Look inside historic library gifted by a 'greatest' Glaswegians

Julie Moulsdale is Managing Director at Perceptive Communicators

Community engagement is key to a successful project - Julie Moulsdale

Central Library in Edinburgh opened in 1890, and was the first public library building in the city. Picture: Ian Georgeson

All overdue book fines to be scrapped by Edinburgh libraries

Innovative public library projects will be brought to life through a share of the PLIF

Scotland’s libraries awarded £100,000 to boost innovation across vital services

The ability to borrow the latest titles keeps Alastair Dalton returning to the library shelves. (Photo by Lisa Ferguson/The Scotsman)

Passions: Libraries my lifelong focus from social hub to latest books

Barclays will close another 14 branches in the UK

Barclays confirms more high street branch closures across the UK

A rare first edition 1996 Bloomsbury publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone purchased from a library for pennies is set to fetch up to £5,000 at auction.

Harry Potter book bought for 30p turns out to be worth £5,000

Picture: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Books about trans issues among those subject to complaints in libraries

A young volunteer sews Ukrainian flags for the Ukrainian military at a library in western Ukrainian city of Lviv on April 2, 2022. Picture: YURIY DYACHYSHYN/AFP via Getty Images)

How Ukraine’s librarians mobilised to fight the Russian culture war

CILIPS believes that removing school librarian posts 'will severely damage the quality of education they offer pupils' (file image). Picture: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images.

Pressure grows to save North Lanarkshire librarian posts

Margaret Houston, principal librarian at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow, explains how the Harry Potter books helped the library encourage more children into reading.

Libraries and Harry Potter 'opened the door' to reading for many children

Maureen Cannell with her grandchildren outside Whiteinch Library in Glasgow. Picture: John Devlin

Newspapers and public libraries have a lot in common - Catherine Salmond

Libraries are under threat of financial cuts. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA

Communities suffer when library budgets are cut - Sean McNamara

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s call to voters to send a message to Boris Johnson is misplaced, says Brian Monteith

Forget sending a message to Boris, address it to Bute House instead - Brian Mon...

Campaigns to reopen closed libraries in Glasgow in August 2021. Picture: John Devlin/JPIMedia

Support our Libraries: Labour hits out at SNP on its funding record

A Bookbug session at Central Children's Library in Edinburgh. Picture: John Devlin

Support Our Libraries: A celebration of Edinburgh Central Children's Library
Staff at the Central Children’s Library in Edinburgh have described the unwavering enthusiasm of a generation of Scottish young people who are desperate to read...

Seven public library services are to share more than £200,000 to help them reconnect with their readers in some of Scotland’s most deprived areas. Picture by JANE BARLOW

Scottish libraries get final funding boost for Covid relief

The Lewis & Harris mobile van. Picture: contributed

It would be great if libraries did not have to be justified - Kathleen Milne

Photo credit Oliver Goulden

Support our Libraries: Protesters gather for 'read in' amid closures

Emma Newlands is fascinated by the world of memoirs. Picture: Getty Images

How my local library helped foster my addiction to memoirs - Emma Newlands

Support our Libraries: More than half of adults believe digital services are 'no substitute' for traditional libraries study finds. (Picture credit: Mikhail Tereshchenko\TASS via Getty)

Digital services are 'no substitute' for traditional libraries study finds

Campaigners have fought to get Whiteinch Library open for the past nine months. Tomorrow (Monday), it will finally open its doors. Pictured are supporters Maureen Cannell (59) with grand children, Mallory (5 months) and Mathew Gallacher, during the summer. PIC: John Devlin.

Book closes on Glasgow mass grassroots protests as libraries prepare to open

Around £400,000 has been awarded to libraries across the country. Picture: Mikhail Tereshchenko\TASS via Getty Images

Support our Libraries: Government offers up £400,000 to support projects

Scotland has always been something of a powerhouse when it comes to public libraries. Picture: Getty

Libraries were never just about books - Nick Poole

Morag Smith is national outreach development worker for Glasgow Women’s Library

How Glasgow Women’s Library fights gender inequalities - Morag Smith

Libraries are a gateway to adventure

Save our Libraries: Time travel with a library card - Liam Rudden

Banners from protesters outside the Scottish Parliament calling for libraries to be reopened in September. Picture: Lisa Ferguson/JPIMedia

SAVE OUR LIBRARIES PROTEST AT THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

Support our Libraries: 'Concern' over lack of provision in Dumfries and Galloway

Couper Institute Public Hall and Library. Picture: John Devlin/JPIMedia

Support our Libraries: ‘It’s a short-term fix for a long-term problem’

Sean McNamara, Head of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland (CILIPS). Picture: Contributed

We need a funding model that allows libraries to thrive - Sean McNamara

Marc Lambert, CEO, Scottish Book Trust

Libraries are linked to the values that define a nation - Marc Lambert

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries