Online Catalogues
The following National Library catalogues and indexes are available online. For library professionals and advanced researchers, guidance on the use of our records and our Z39.50 profile is available.
Main catalogue
This contains over four million records and covers printed material acquired by the Library since 1682 (irrespective of date of publication), as well as a constantly growing proportion of material acquired before that date. This online catalogue covers the majority of the printed collections. It also contains entries for recent music items, mainly music scores published since about 1993, and for printed maps and atlases (records for map series are gradually being added) and some manuscript maps. In addition, the 'cross-search' facility lets you access the Advocates Library catalogue, and those of Edinburgh University Library and the Library of Congress.
Registered readers can use our online book request system direct from the main catalogue for books/monographs published after 1800 which can be consulted in the General Reading Room. Read more about the online request system on our preorders page or see our detailed online book request system guide.
Manuscript catalogues and guides
A number of online finding aids covering our manuscript collections.
Scots Abroad
A database resource relating to the activities of Scots overseas, with special emphasis on Scots emigration.
Special and Named Printed Collections
An index to over 160 of our special collections.
See also:
- Licensed digital collections: A list of online resources available in the reading rooms in the George IV Bridge Building. You can use some of them remotely if you have a reader's ticket. Others are available without restriction.
- Principal additions to the collections: A summary list (PDF file) of the most important additions to the collections, both printed and manuscript.
