Scottish Web Links
Here are links to websites which you might find useful. Our list covers a range of subjects, and includes Scottish government and cultural bodies and several non-governmental organisations.
Libraries and information resources
- CAIRNS: Co-operative Academic Information Retrieval Network for Scotland
CAIRNS aims to integrate Z39.50 compliant library catalogues across Scotland into a single service for cross-searching. - Centre for Digital Library Research, University of Strathclyde
An important source of digital information: the home of BUBL (the Bulletin Board for Libraries) and projects like CAIRNS, SCONE, etc. - COPAC
This union catalogue gives free access to the merged online catalogues of 26 university research libraries and national libraries in the UK, including the National Library of Scotland. - SALSER: Scottish Academic Libraries SERials
SALSER provides a web-based union catalogue of serial holdings in Scottish university and research libraries, along with a gateway to the libraries' own OPACs. - Scotland's Culture
A one stop shop for electronic and physical resources, reflecting the rich diversity of Scottish culture. - Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL)
The umbrella body for Scotland's university and research libraries. - SLAINTE: Scottish Libraries Across the INTErnet
Includes many types of information relating to Scottish libraries. - Statistical Accounts of Scotland – EDINA
A digital version of a unique historical resource. The (Old) and New Statistical Accounts give a parish-by-parish description of Scotland in the 1790s and 1840s, searchable through tables of contents and indexes. - TheGlasgowStory
Thousands of images from the collections of the city's world-famous libraries, museums and universities illustrate the story of Glasgow, which is told by some of Scotland's best writers.
Scottish gateways
- Electric Scotland
Information on clans, history, tourism, etc. - Gateway to Scotland
Run by the Department of Geography, University of Edinburgh, Gateway to Scotland includes a gazetteer of Scotland searchable under various different categories. - GENUKI: Scotland
The Scottish section of UK and Ireland genealogy, a site containing a wide range of information of interest to genealogists and family historians. - hi-ways – scottish highlands and islands public service information portal
Information on the Highlands and islands. - Rampant Scotland Directory of Scottish Web Sites
Includes links to '9,000+ Scottish-related links, regularly updated'. - Scotland Internet – directory of Scottish web sites
News, sport, weather, cinema, radio, theatre, reference, education, politics, etc. - Scotland.org
Run by Scottish Enterprise, "Scotland's national Internet signpost" provides a wide range of links, with particular emphasis on business and economics. - ScotlandOnline
A site with an emphasis on e-commerce, including sport, entertainment, business and travel. - soc.culture.scottish – FAQ page
Associated with the soc.culture.scottish newsgroup, the FAQ site contains hundreds of pages of information on all aspects of Scottish life, plus an online guide to Scotland.
Government and its agencies
- General Register Office for Scotland
As well as census information, contains material for genealogists and links to other sites. - Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE)
The partner to Scottish Enterprise, with a specific focus on the Highlands and islands. - Historic Scotland
The government agency responsible for preserving and interpreting historic sites and buildings. - Land Registers Scotland Online
Information on land tenure and registration of title. - Learndirect Scotland
The consumer brand name of the Scottish University for Industry, Learndirect Scotland provides information on qualifications and careers for adults. - Learning and Teaching Scotland
Formed by the merger of the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum and the Scottish Council for Educational Technology. For the moment much information is still held on the websites of the predecessor bodies. - Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Scotland's leading centre for botanical research, with links to related sites. - Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS)
The government agency responsible for recording archaeological and architectural sites. Includes the National Monuments Record for Scotland. - Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland
Advises national and local government on the quality of planning and design projects in Scotland. - Scotland Legislation
Contains acts of the Scottish Parliament, UK acts relating to Scotland, statutory instruments, etc. - Scotland's Census Records On-Line (SCROL)
A General Register Office for Scotland website, providing free access to the results of the Scottish 2001 census data. - Scottish Enterprise Web Portal
Scotland's agency for business and economic development, with useful links. - Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
The government agency responsible for water and air quality, radioactive emissions, hazardous wastes, etc. - Scottish Government
Contains news, press releases, lists of recent publications, online consultation exercises, government contact points and an excellent section of links to websites of related interest. - Scotland's Health on the Web (SHOW) – The NHS in Scotland (NHSiS)
The focal point for websites relating to the National Health Service in Scotland. - Scottish Natural Heritage
The government agency responsible for nature conservation and landscape protection: its site includes information on protected areas, online consultation exercises, etc. - Scottish Parliament Website
The official site of the Scottish Parliament, with information on parliamentary business, MSPs, material for teachers and pupils and links to other Parliaments. - Scottish Police Services
Links to all Scottish police forces and related services. - Scottish Qualifications Authority
The SQA controls examinations and qualifications in the school and further education sectors. - sportscotland
The umbrella body for Scottish sport, including directories of governing bodies, local sports councils, etc., and links to local sports clubs, arranged by sport. - VisitScotland
The official website of the Scottish Tourist Board.
Cultural and arts agencies
- Glasgow Museums
The site for the City of Glasgow's 13 museums, which are home to one of the richest collections in Europe. - National Archives of Scotland
Formerly known as the Scottish Record Office, NAS holds many private archives as well as the official records of government. - National Galleries of Scotland
Information on Scotland's four principal national galleries – the Scottish National Gallery, the Scottish Portrait Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art, and the Dean Gallery. - National Museums of Scotland
Information on all Scotland's national museums, including the Royal Museum, the National War Museum, the Museum of Flight, and the Museum of Scottish Country Life. - National Theatre of Scotland
Scotland's national theatre works with artists, composers, choreographers and playwrights. It tours to theatres and 'places where theatre has never been', across Scotland and beyond. - Resources for Learning in Scotland (RLS)
Provides information, images, resource packs and websites from over 100 Scottish archives and libraries. Covers Scotland's social, cultural and industrial heritage from early Scottish times to the 1990s. - School of Scottish Studies
As well as information on the school's work in the fields of folklore and ethnology, the website includes samples of songs and tales from their extensive sound archive. - Scottish Archive Network (SCAN)
SCAN aims to open up Scotland's rich archival heritage to everyone, linking archives to create a unique knowledge base on Scottish history and culture. Includes an online discussion forum. - Scottish Arts Council
Includes information on Scottish Arts Council policies, membership of its committees and panels, and a wide range of links to arts websites. - Scottish Cultural Resources Access Network (SCRAN)
SCRAN is a subscription-based resource which features material of cultural significance held in Scotland's museums, galleries and libraries. Includes links to related sites. - Scottish Museums Council
Includes a geographical directory of Scottish museums and associated links. - Scottish Music Centre
A focal point for information on Scottish music, with a wide range of links to music sites. - Scottish Screen
The agency charged with promoting film, television and new media in Scotland. - Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
Founded in 1780 to study the antiquities and history of Scotland, and open to all with an interest in Scottish history and archaeology.
Literature
- Association for Scottish Literary Studies (ASLS)
A focal point for information on Scottish literature. Includes digital versions of recent papers and extensive links. - Edinburgh International Book Festival
The website for the world's largest book festival, which began in 1983 and is held annually in August. - Eighteenth-Century Scottish Studies Society (ECSSS)
ECSSS is active in the rapidly growing field of Scottish Enlightenment studies. - Publishing Scotland
The site for the trade association of almost 80 Scottish publishers which was formerly known as the Scottish Publishers Association. - Scottish Book Trust (SBT)
Includes an online register of Scottish writers and other book-related materials. - Scottish Literature at the University of South Carolina
One of the main centres in North America for the study of Scottish literature. Includes tables of contents for the journal Studies in Scottish literature which is based there. - Scottish PEN
The website for the Scottish Centre of International PEN, a writers' association with centres worldwide. - Scottish Poetry Library
Information on the work of the library and links to related sites. - Scottish Studies Centre
The Scottish Studies Centre at the Johannes Gutenberg-Universitat Mainz in Germersheim promotes the study of Scottish literature, particularly in Germany.
Gaelic language
- Comunn na Gaidhlig
The national development agency for Gaelic. - Gaelic Books Council
Information on Gaelic books, new and historical. - Fàilte gu SMO – Sabhal Mor Ostaig
The site of the Gaelic college Sabhal Mor Ostaig provides a good introduction to Gaelic sources, with extensive links. Text in Gaelic and English, with some pages in Gaelic only. - Proiseact nan Ealan
The Gaelic arts agency.
Scots language
- Dictionary of the Scots language = Dictionar o the Scots leid
An electronic edition of the two major resources, the Dictionary of the Older Scottish tongue and the Scottish National Dictionary. - Elphinstone Kist
This 'official Doric site' contains a selection of writing in North East Scots, on a variety of topics, aimed at schools and the general public. - Scots Language Resource Centre
An organisation dedicated to promoting the Scots language, with information on activities, publications, etc. - Scottish Language Dictionaries
A new body devoted to Scottish lexicography, formed through the merger of the Scottish National Dictionary Association and the Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue.
Political parties
- Scottish Green Party
- Scottish Labour
- Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Scottish National Party
- Scottish Socialist Party
Law and the legal system
- Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty comprises members of the Scottish bar. Its site includes information on members, services and the Faculty's library. - Law Society of Scotland
The governing body for Scottish solicitors. Extensive links. - Scottish Courts Service
An access point to information relating to all civil and criminal courts in Scotland.
Civil society – miscellaneous non-governmental organisations
- Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
The COSLA site includes policy documents, news releases and links, including all member councils. - Edinburgh Festivals
Official listings for all the festivals based in Edinburgh. - John Muir Trust
The JMT combines conservation, recreation and community interests in preserving mountain areas. - National Trust for Scotland
'The conservation charity that protects and promotes Scotland's natural and cultural heritage'. - Royal Society of Edinburgh
Scotland's foremost learned society, covering academic, professional and business interests. Includes a wide range of links, particularly of scientific interest. - Saltire Society
A society dedicated to promoting Scottish culture in all its diversity. - Scotland Europa
Sponsored by Scottish Enterprise, Scotland Europa exists to promote Scotland's interests within the European Union by lobbying and providing services to its member organisations. - Scottish Christian.com
A gateway to Christian churches in Scotland. - Scottish Council Foundation and Scottish Policy Net
The SCF is a think tank on social, cultural and economic policy, and its Scottish Policy Net provides an interactive forum for strategic conversation on these topics. - Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
The umbrella body for voluntary organisations in Scotland. Includes links. - Scottish Environment Link
The liaison body for Scotland's voluntary sector environmental organisations. - Scottish Genealogy Society
Promotes research into Scottish family history through the collection, exchange and publication of genealogical information. - Scottish Wildlife Trust
The SWT protects and preserves wildlife and natural areas, particularly through its network of nature reserves. - Universities Scotland
Formerly the Committee of Scottish Higher Education Principals, Universities Scotland acts as the autonomous voice of the higher education sector in Scotland.
