News headlines from the National Library of Scotland http://www.nls.uk/news/ Edinburgh's Lord Provost has presented a Fair Trade Award to the National Library of Scotland. At the city's Fairtrade Brunch, the Rev George Grubb announced three of the winners of the Lord Provost Fair Trade Awards. NLS received the 'Best Newcomer' award for the Visitor Centre cafe, which sells only Fairtrade coffee, along with other Fairtrade products. Accepting the award for NLS was Teri Wishart, Director of Development and External Relations. The busy event was held at the Library on 25 February as part of Fairtrade Fortnight. http://www.nls.uk/news/index.html#6 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:45:00 GMT The deadline nears for the UK Government's consultation into how libraries can collect freely available web-based material for future researchers. Websites and digital publications can have a short lifespan. As a result, much of the digitally published knowledge of Scotland and the UK is being lost from the national record. The six legal deposit libraries in the UK and Ireland have the right to collect non-print material. However, the legal framework to put it into practice is not yet in place. As Scotland's legal deposit library, the National Library of Scotland supports proposed legislation to bring this about. NLS has prepared a Q+A document explaining the issues surrounding the collection of non-print material. To view the consultation in full, visit the Department for Culture, Media and Sport website. For a copy of the draft NLS response to the consultation, which ends on 1 March, email marketing@nls.uk. http://www.nls.uk/news/index.html#5 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:45:00 GMT Alexander McCall Smith will sign copies of his new Precious Ramotswe story at the National Library of Scotland on the day of the book's launch. 'Precious and the Puggies' (Itchy Coo, 9.99 GBP) is unusual in the series about the founder of the 'No I Ladies' Detective Agency'. For one thing, it focuses on eight-year-old Precious's first ever case and is written with younger readers in mind. But significantly, for the first year of publication the story is only available in Scots. Fellow author James Robertson has translated the tale into a language he describes as 'one of Scotland's most valuable assets'. Alexander himself has long admired the Scots language and those who are 'determined not to forget how to speak and read' it. Alexander and James will sign books at NLS between 16.00 and 17.00 on 25 February. Anyone who cannot be there can preorder a signed copy by phoning 0131 623 3700 or emailing events@nls.uk. Our bookshop is now selling 'Precious and the Puggies', which is illustrated by award-winning illustrator Iain McIntosh. http://www.nls.uk/news/index.html#4 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:15:00 GMT A free 'brunch' hosted by the National Library of Scotland highlights the campaign supporting farmers and workers in developing countries. On 25 February, visitors to our George IV Bridge Building can sample Fairtrade produce and hear speakers from Fairtrade organisations. Edinburgh's Lord Provost, the Rev George Grubb, will present his Fair Trade Awards to city organisations and individuals who promote the cause. The event is taking place during Fairtrade Fortnight. Brunch hours are 10.00-11.30, and people can drop in any time. NLS support for the campaign extends to the Visitor Centre cafe, where the coffee is Fairtrade only. http://www.nls.uk/news/index.html#3 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:15:00 GMT A website uncovering the history of the women's suffrage movement in Scotland is now available for schools and other learners. 'A Guid Cause' uses material from the National Library of Scotland and other collections to chart the struggles of women to get the vote. Photographs, pamphlets, newspaper reports and diary entries show how and why the suffrage campaign came about. Activities for secondary school pupils and teachers include documentary-making and holding a class debate. There are also questions on the arrest of Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst at St Andrew's Hall, Glasgow, in March 1914. The site's three projects were developed with teachers and are designed to support the Curriculum for Excellence. Non-school learners will also find plenty to interest them. Subjects covered range from the start of the campaign to the aftermath of women gaining the right to vote. http://www.nls.uk/news/index.html#2 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:15:00 GMT Each night during February, the outside wall of our George IV Bridge Building is carrying four lines of poetry. The projection of a verse from Lord Byron's 'We'll go no more a-roving' is part of the 'Carry a poem' campaign. Organised by Edinburgh City of Literature, the campaign is projecting poetry on to several other sites in the city, including the Usher Hall. It has also distributed thousands of free books and poetry cards to libraries, cafés, and cultural, community and leisure centres. http://www.nls.uk/news/index.html#1 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:15:00 GMT A rare letter from the widow of Robert Burns was donated yesterday to the National Library of Scotland. The letter was written in 1804 in Dumfries and gives a glimpse into the life of Jean Armour, who married the poet in 1788. Eight years after his death, she tells an old family friend about her children and their opportunities, and of sons who had died. Youngest son Maxwell, born on the day of Burns's funeral, lived only until he was two years and nine months old. Burns enthusiast Dr Nancy Groce of the Library of Congress discovered the letter in a junk store in New York's Greenwich Village. She bought it for 75 dollars. Having hosted a Burns symposium at NLS last year, she has generously donated the letter to the Library's collections. Dr Groce hopes that it will 'lead to further research into Jean Armour Burns, her life and times, and her contributions'. http://www.nls.uk/news/index.html#2 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:20:00 GMT German entries have taken both prizes at the craft bookbinding awards held annually at the National Library of Scotland. Nine entrants from Europe took part in the 2009 Elzabeth Soutar Bookbinding Competition, including two from the UK. Other entrants came from Italy, Spain, Finland, and the Netherlands. Silas Schmidt, last year's student winner, won the overall prize for his binding for 'Schwartzes Quadrat' by Max Frisch. Kateryna Yeroshenkova, also an entrant last year, was awarded the student prize for her binding for 'Der Redliche Zeitgenosse' by Michail Sostschenko. All the bindings are on show in the craft bookbinding display at the Library until 31 January. http://www.nls.uk/news/index.html#1 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:20:00 GMT