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natlibscot.bsky.social
National Library of Scotland
@natlibscot.bsky.social
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Scotland’s living memory. If you can think of it, we probably have it.
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natlibscot.bsky.social
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...
A collage of images of Damian Barr and Louise Welsh and the various libraries from their lives, inlcuding the Mitchell Library, Glasgow University Library and Motherwell Library.
November 12, 2025 at 11:30 AM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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
detail showing Agra and the Taj Majal from Ordnance Survey of India half-inch to the mile mapping layer
November 10, 2025 at 9:01 AM
natlibscot.bsky.social
You can see a piece of the history of 'Frankenstein' in person at our free pop-up display this Friday! The display will feature Shelley's letters, early editions, and materials from our archives.

📌 George IV Bridge
🗓️ 11am-4pm, Friday 7 November
🎟️ Free Entry
Frankenstein's monsters' bride illustration, by Steven Learmonth Frankenstein's monster illustration, by Steven Learmonth
November 5, 2025 at 9:00 AM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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.
Mary Shelley illustration, by Steven Learmonth
November 5, 2025 at 9:00 AM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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!
Page 1 of a letter of Mary Shelley to Sir Walter Scott on the authorship of ‘Frankenstein’, 14 June 1818 (MS.3889 f. 118) Page 2 of a letter of Mary Shelley to Sir Walter Scott on the authorship of ‘Frankenstein’, 14 June 1818 (MS.3889 f. 118)
November 4, 2025 at 11:21 AM
natlibscot.bsky.social
Great point, Penny! Here's the images with the actual text of the letter included in the alt text.

On the day of the pop-up, we will have large print materials and a booklet about the letter, with the transcript and facsimiles included.
Page one of Mary Shelley's Letter to Walter Scott, reading: "Sir Having received from the publisher of Frankenstein the notice taken of that work in Blackwood’s Magasine, and intelligence at the same time that it was to your kindness that I owed this favourable notice I hasten to return my acknowledgements and thanks, and at the same time to express the pleasure I received from approbation of so high a value as yours. Mr Shelley soon after its publication took the liberty of sending you a copy but as both he and I thought in a manner which would prevent you from supposing that he was the author we were surprised therefore to see him mentioned in the notice as the probable author, ─ I am anxious to prevent your continuing in the mistake of supposing Mr Shelley guilty of a juvenile attempt of mine, to which ─ from its being" Page two of Mary Shelley's Letter to Walter Scott, reading: "written at an early age, I abstained from putting my name ─ and from respect to those persons from whom I bear it. I have therefore kept it concealed except from a few friends. I beg you will pardon the intrusion of this explanation. Your obliged &c &c Mary Wollstft Shelley"
November 4, 2025 at 4:31 PM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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-...
Side by side view of historic one-inch to the mile maps of Bray, Ireland comparing 1880s with 1900s
November 3, 2025 at 9:01 AM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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...
shelves with books about trees and forests
October 27, 2025 at 9:02 AM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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.
table with maps and staff from National Library of Scotland maps team
October 24, 2025 at 9:30 AM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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...
Professor Christopher Smith smiles towards the camera. Photograph taken from chest up.
October 14, 2025 at 2:35 PM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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
A collage of square cutouts from maps of Scotland. A Library-themed 'Snakes and Ladders' game, with two giant dice on top. A bunch of cards for a Library 'size matching' game, laid out on a table with a measuring tape.
October 14, 2025 at 8:01 AM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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/...
side by side view of first and second edition ordnance survey maps for Waterford from National Library of Scotland website
October 13, 2025 at 8:02 AM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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.
A graphic-style illustration of Matilda walking home with a pull-trolley full of books. A graphic-style illustration of Breakfast at Tiffany's scene in the library. A graphic-style illustration of the Scooby Gang in the library in 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'. A graphic-style depiction of the Breakfast Club sitting on the bannister in their library.
October 7, 2025 at 8:01 AM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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
October 6, 2025 at 8:01 AM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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.
leaf made with autumn leaves pine cone covered with seeds to make a bird feeder
September 26, 2025 at 12:30 PM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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
A library themed snakes and ladder games on a table. The National Library of Scotland's Causewayside Building.
September 26, 2025 at 12:00 PM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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.
A Macmillan volunteer sits with a member of the public, looking at a book together.
September 16, 2025 at 11:01 AM
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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).
Songs and Fancies lies open in a display case, with a person kneeling down to look at it closely. The photograph is taken close up, with the book in the foreground.
September 12, 2025 at 2:29 PM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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.
A graphic promoting the National Library of Scotland's 'Love Libraries' campaign, with the slogan 'Find your next chapter' in the middle of the image, with graphic depictions of families reading, exploring, and playing in a library setting surrounding the text.
September 9, 2025 at 11:01 AM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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
Map of Great Britain by Abraham Ortelius. 1646
September 1, 2025 at 2:45 PM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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.
A photograph of a cricket scorebook, donated by Cricket Scotland and now part of the National Library of Scotland's collections.
August 26, 2025 at 3:30 PM
natlibscot.bsky.social
The Lend and Mend network, managed by the Scottish Libraries and Information Council (SLIC), covers Perth, Aberdeen, Forfar, Midlothian, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Orkney, Edinburgh and Inverclyde.
A person sits, holding up a repaired quilt, next to a sewing machine. The wall behind reads, 'Lend + Mend'
August 26, 2025 at 11:03 AM
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‘Lend and Mend’ hubs aim to support and encourage communities to keep items for longer rather than throw them away. The projects not only promote a shift towards a circular economy but are also helping people save money during the cost-of-living crisis.
A person stands holding a piece of fabric with 'Stitch it, don't ditch it.' Sewn into it.
August 26, 2025 at 11:03 AM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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.
Next to a banner that reads 'Fix it at your local library', a person stands over a table covered in tools, working to repair a broken laminator.
August 26, 2025 at 11:03 AM
natlibscot.bsky.social
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
August 25, 2025 at 8:01 AM