The American Associates of the National Library of Scotland
The American Associates of the National Library of Scotland (AANLS) is an independent charity. Based in the United States of America, it supports the work of the National Library of Scotland (NLS).
The American Associates provides supporters in America with the opportunity to help us to safeguard and increase access to Scotland's heritage.
AANLS receives full tax-exempt status from the IRS under section 501(c)(3), allowing United States taxpayers to receive deductions on gifts.
American collections
The Library actively collects a wide range of American material:
- Collection highlights:
- Scottish-American history, Scottish emigration to the USA and genealogy
- American literature and history, especially reference works, presidential history, colonial history and the Civil War, and collected works of authors
- American politics, women's studies, African-American studies, and mountaineering and polar exploration.
- Official Publications:
For over 40 years (1950-1994) our collection of official publications from America grew extensively under an exchange with the Library of Congress - US periodicals:
We subscribe to substantial numbers of major US periodicals, including a large number of literary author newsletters - Manuscripts:
In particular American writers and their manuscript material are well represented in the John Murray publishing archive including Herman Melville, James Fenimore Cooper, Washington Irving and Edith Newbold Wharton. - Maps:
Including many antiquarian atlases and modern material, such as CD-ROMS of the 'Omni Gazetteer' and 'Street Atlas USA' - Digital collections:
In addition to our physical collections we also provide NLS registered readers with access to licensed digital collections of Americana, including:- 'Early American Imprints, 1639-1800' – 2.3 million pages of early American publishing
- 'Sabin Americana, 1500-1926' – works about the Americas published worldwide from 1500 to the early 1900s.
Gifts of collection material to AANLS
We welcome support from those who wish to make a gift of material to NLS collections.
Please contact us in the first instance to enable us to confirm that we are able to accept your gift:
Email: aanls@nls.uk
Tel: +44 131 623 3804
You can designate charitable contributions for the following key programmes:
- Acquisitions
- Research – supporting curatorial work, conservation and cataloguing
- Capital and endowment – supporting capital development or providing endowment funds to acquire and preserve material.
Benefits for AANLS donors
AANLS donors receive a range of benefits including:
- Patrons' Reception in the US
- Copies of our award-winning full colour magazine 'Discover NLS'
- 10% discount on NLS publications and merchandise
- Monthly email bulletin
- Access to NLS events programme in the UK and the US
- Updates on NLS exhibitions, tours and education programmes
- Naming opportunities are also available for major donors.
AANLS Board of Directors
Honorary President:
Lady Balfour of Burleigh CBE
Directors:
Mr William Buice III
Professor Martha Driver
Mrs Allison Fippinger
Mr James Fraser
Mrs Janet Saint Germain
Dr William Zachs (Chairman)
