Events at NLS
Browse the list below to find out about talks, workshops and more organised by the National Library of Scotland.
Book online or phone 0131 623 3734. Places are limited, so we recommend that you book in advance. For more information, or to join the events mailing list, email events@nls.uk.
List updated: 16 April
- 17 April: An evening with Dennis Canavan and Margo MacDonald
- 23 April: Robert Louis Stevenson and his pirates of the Caribbean
- 30 April: Towards Scotland's Parliament
- 2 May: Naomi Mitchison: A celebration
- 6 May: 'Researching the Bartholomew Archive'
- 7 May: NLS poetry night: Colin McGuire, Rachel Amey and Jenny Lindsay
- 8 May: 'RSA advancing cultural relations'
- 9 May: 'Beyond 2014: A 2020 vision for Scotland's public services'
- 14 May: 'Hatless but happy: Women travellers in Scotland'
- 20 May: 'Found at sea'
- 21 May: 'Scotland's mountains before the mountaineers'
- 23 May: 'Designs on your money'
- 27 May: 'A pride of lions'
- 29 May: 'Everest: Taming the mountain'
- 3 June: 'The Irish in Scotland: Robert Tannahill'
- 4 June: NLS poetry night: Harry Giles, Tickle, Rachel McCrum
- 6 June: 'Picturing Africa: Illustrating Livingstone's explorations'
- 11 June: John Francis Campbell
- 14 June: 'I knew a man called Livingstone: Toto tales'
- 20 June: 'The Iona Psalter and medieval Scottish liturgical manuscripts'
- 25 June: 'Jewel in the glen: Gleneagles, golf and the Ryder Cup'
- 26 June: 'New poems in Scots pass "The smeddum test"'
April events
An evening with Dennis Canavan and Margo MacDonald
Margo MacDonald and Dennis Canavan are both people o' independent mind, whose combined parliamentary service spans more than half a century. Both have experienced the skulduggery of party politics. Both have beaten the party machine to become two of only three Independents ever elected to the Scottish Parliament. This event will be an honest exchange of views, free from the propaganda and doublespeak which stifles much of contemporary debate. Come along and ask them questions.
17 April
18.00
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
Robert Louis Stevenson and his pirates of the Caribbean
On World Book Night join us in celebrating the enduring appeal of Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Treasure Island', 130 years after its first publication in book form. Stevenson's exciting yarn of buried treasure, danger, and memorable characters, continues to enthral. Andrew Martin, Curator of Modern Scottish Collections at NLS, explores the success and impact of the novel, with illustrations from material held at the Library.
23 April
18.00
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
Towards Scotland's Parliament
Devolution was a key chapter in Scottish and British contemporary history. Its real significance, however, cannot be fully understood without looking at the campaigning activity which preceded the advent of the new Scottish Parliament in 1999. NLS Curator Maria Castrillo will introduce us to the archives of several civic organisations, pressure groups and activists concerned with Devolution. Her illustrated talk places these collections in the historical context in which they were created.
30 April
18.00
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
May events
Naomi Mitchison: A celebration
Four experts on the life and works of Naomi Mitchison (1897-1999) showcase their talents in this one-off special event. Renowned Scottish authors Donald Smith and Jenni Calder, Dr Moira Burgess and Professor Isobel Murray explore Mitchison's importance in Scottish history and the influence of her writing on the world, locally and globally. The event is run in partnership with Alba Heritage Trust, Argyll and Bute Council, the Saltire Society, and the people of Carradale.
2 May
18.00
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
'Researching the Bartholomew Archive: School atlases, the scramble for Africa, and Bartholomew's maps'
Julie McDougall and Amy Prior have spent three years researching the Bartholomew Archive, the largest commercial map publisher archive held in a public institution. They present some of their findings in these fully illustrated talks. Julie focuses on school atlases in Britain and overseas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and Amy looks at Bartholomew's mapping of Africa between 1880 and 1915. They also highlight recent research into cartography and publishing, and Bartholomew's important role.
6 May
18.00
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
NLS poetry night: Colin McGuire, Rachel Amey and Jenny Lindsay
This is the second event in our monthly series 'Tricolour', showcasing performance poetry and the spoken word. Hear three different voices, three different styles, three different takes on life.
7 May
18.30
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
'RSA advancing cultural relations'
Consul-General Pierre-Alain Coffinier (France) and Dr Kim Minke (Director, Danish Cultural Institute) discuss the paramount importance of advancing purposeful cultural and political relations in a shrinking world. The event is set against the background of a feasibility study at the University of Edinburgh on the establishment of a centre of expertise in cultural relations and public diplomacy in Scotland. A joint event: NLS with RSA Media, Creative Industries, Culture and Heritage Network.
8 May
18.00
Free. Registration is exclusively via the Eventbrite website. To book by phone, and to find out more, contact the RSA 'MCICH' Network Chairman via residential landline 0131 556 2052 on 25, 26 and 27 April only.
'Beyond 2014: A 2020 vision for Scotland's public services'
With Robert Black CBE FRSA FRSE
Public services in Scotland face great challenges, including spending cuts, huge cost pressures from an ageing population, an ageing infrastructure and the mixed picture on performance and quality. Robert Black, the first Auditor General for Scotland (also former Head of Audit Scotland) discusses the issues and suggests that smaller countries may be better placed to build the transformational changes needed. A joint event: NLS with RSA Fellows' Public Services Reform (Scotland) Network
9 May
18.00
Free. Registration is exclusively via http://2020scotlandpublicservices.eventbrite.co.uk. To book by phone, and to find out more, contact the RSA 'MCICH' Network Chairman via residential landline 0131 556 2052 on 25, 26 and 27 April only.
'Hatless but happy: Women travellers in Scotland'
Scotland was firmly on the tourist track by the 1820s, but still comparatively few women ventured north. In this illustrated talk, NLS Curator Olive Geddes examines the journals and letters of four very different female visitors to Scotland. They range from the conventional to the bohemian, and from the famous to the obscure. These informal accounts, over nearly 100 years, provide glimpses of the changing face of Scotland through female eyes.
14 May
18.00
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
'Found at sea'
Through music and poetry Andrew Greig recounts the tale of his open dinghy voyage from Stromness to Cava. By sailing small boats in scary open waters Andrew Greg found a new activity and a new metaphor for life. Written in six weeks, 'Found at sea' is a 'very wee epic' about sailing, male friendship and a voyage. The evening also includes readings from Greig's 'Getting higher: The complete mountain poem', with musical accompaniment from Jim Hutchinson.
20 May
18.00
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
'Scotland's mountains before the mountaineers'
Mountaineer and author Ian Mitchell reveals the hidden story of the Scottish Highlands in the days before mountaineering became a popular sport. This was a time when Jacobites, bandits, poachers and illicit distillers sought asylum in the dark nooks and crannies of Scotland's mountain landscapes. In 'Scotland's mountains before the mountaineers', Mitchell discusses those who lived, worked, travelled and fought in the Highlands before the time of Sir Walter Scott.
21 May
18.00
Designs on your money
The £5 note in 2005 celebrating the career of Jack Nicklaus is widely regarded as the most successful commemorative banknote of all time. Iain Harrison is the man who came up with the note's original idea and design features, having project managed all 11 Royal Bank of Scotland commemorative banknotes during the past 25 years. This avid collector with a passion for all Scottish banknotes tells us which ideas worked well — and which ones did not!
23 May
18.00
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
A pride of lions
The British and Irish Lions represent the pinnacle of many rugby players' careers. In 2013 the Lions tour Australia, taking on one of the best teams in the world. Former Scotland internationals John Beattie and Peter Wright lift the lid on life with the Lions from a Scottish perspective, drawing on their own experiences. Joining them is David Barnes, author of 'Behind the Lions: Playing rugby for the British and Irish Lions'.
27 May
18.00
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
'Everest: Taming the mountain'
Maps of Everest belonging to the late Dr Michael Ward recently became part of the mountaineering collections at NLS. Curator Paula Williams uses them to examine the modern history of exploration on Everest. Dr Ward's research laid the foundations of the route for the successful final conquest by Hillary and Norgay — on this very day, 60 years ago.
29 May
18.00
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
June events
The Irish in Scotland: Robert Tannahill
Fred Freeman's lecture, with musical examples, concentrates on Robert Tannahill songs with Irish melodies and written in defence of the early 19th-century Irish emigrants to Scotland. Tannahill contributed to changing perceptions of the Irish and, at the same time, left us with a lovely body of Irish song. Fred is a sometime Fellow in English at the University of Edinburgh and has taught Scottish literature at the School of Scottish Studies and in the English Department.
3 June
18.00
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
NLS poetry night: Harry Giles, Tickle, Rachel McCrum
Our third 'Tricolour' event, with offerings from three talents. The monthly series showcases performance poetry and the spoken word in Scotland. Join us from 18.30 till 20.00.
4 June
18.30
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
Picturing Africa: Illustrating Livingstone's explorations
Helped by artists, photographers, engravers and publishers, 19th-century Scottish missionary explorer David Livingstone created some of the most interesting and iconic images of Africa. Illustrations ranged from the terror of lion attacks and the horrors of slavery to the abundant wildlife and the magnificence of Victoria Falls. David McClay, Curator of this summer's Livingstone exhibition at NLS, examines how the images were used to make the explorer's books bestsellers, and were reproduced in biographies, newspapers and magic lantern slides.
6 June
18.00
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
John Francis Campbell and the making of 'The popular tales of the West Highlands'
He was an aristocrat, polymath, traveller, and inventor. Today, though, John Francis Campbell is best-known as editor of the landmark four-volume 'Popular tales of the West Highlands' (1860-1862). Using the riches of Campbell's archive, Dr Domhnall Uilleam Stiùbhart recounts the inside story of Iain Òg Ìle (Young John of Islay) and his struggles to get his groundbreaking project published. Dr Stiùbhart lectures at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, University of the Highlands and Islands, and at the University of Edinburgh.
11 June
18.00
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
'I knew a man called Livingstone: Toto tales'
An exclusive preview to one of the NLS Fringe events taking place in August. Discover the life of David Livingstone, one of Scotland's greatest explorers, from the perspective of some of his African friends. Why was he so loved? What made him so different to other European explorers of the time? Through this beautiful and powerful storytelling performance, get ready to travel in Livingstone's footsteps, going literally where no white man had ever gone before.
14 June
18.00
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
The Iona Psalter and medieval Scottish liturgical manuscripts
The Iona Psalter is one of only 190 manuscripts, printed books and church service book fragments to have survived from pre-Reformation Scotland. In use before 1559, they range from the Murthly Hours to the remains of a 14th-century book used by a Lanarkshire man to hold his fishhooks. Stephen Holmes, a former Benedictine monk and now a priest at Edinburgh Old St Paul’s Church, gives us a fascinating illustrated talk on the subject.
20 June
18.00
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
Jewel in the glen: Gleneagles, golf and the Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is coming home. The 40th staging of golf's showpiece event is returning to Gleneagles — where it all began. Ed Hodge traces the history of the Ryder Cup back to the first encounter at Gleneagles in 1921. He examines the impact that the 2014 tournament will have on the local community and the wider Scottish society, culture and economy.
25 June
18.00
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
New poems in Scots pass 'The smeddum test'
The continuing vitality of the Scots language is demonstrated in 'The smeddum test', a lively new anthology of 21st-century poems. Contemporary issues and evergreen themes are tackled with energy and wit by the 60 poets represented. Joint editors Lesley Duncan and Alan Riach introduce the book, and poets Sheila Templeton and Rab Wilson read from their own and others' work.
26 June
18.00
Free. Book online or
phone 0131 623 3734.
See also:
Exhibition
Our Bartholomew exhibition looks at the Scottish family and firm that became world famous for their maps and atlases. Runs till 7 May.
Treasures display
'Scottish women of science' is a display highlighting the achievements of trailblazers from the 19th century to the 20th, including Mary Somerville (pictured). Runs till 7 April.