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: 22 May
- 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"'
May events
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
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this event scheduled for 25 June has been postponed.
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:
Treasures display
'Celebrating Iona' is a display marking two significant anniversaries for Scotland's sacred island.Runs till 7 July.