Corporate documents
Read policies, reports and plans about the climate, Equalities, diversity and inclusion, and collections.
AI statement
AI Statement (Word document) (312 KB; 4 pages) — September 2025
Climate and sustainability
Climate Action Plan (Word document) (126KB; 45 pages)
Public Sector Sustainability Report 2019-2020 (PDF) (310 KB; 19 pages) — October 2020
Sustainability Policy (Word document) (82 KB; 8 pages) — January 2024
Sustainability Report 2023-2024 (Word document) (848 KB; 12 pages) — December 2024
Sustainability Report 2022-2023 (Word document) (2.1 MB; 12 pages) — January 2024
Sustainability Report 2021-2022 (Word document) (175 KB; 13 pages) — May 2023
Sustainability Report 2020-21 (PDF) (625 KB; 17 pages) — February 2022
Collections policies
Access Policy (Word document) (82 KB; 9 pages) — September 2025
Collection Management Policy 2021 (PDF) (211 KB; 8 pages)
Collection Development Policy 2023 (Word document) (139 KB; 65 pages)
Cultural Restitution and Spoliation Policy 2023 (Word document) (84.3 KB; 9 pages)
Deaccessioning and Disposals Policy 2022 (Word document) (81 KB; 9 pages)
Digitisation Selection Guide (Word document) (60.1 KB; 6 pages)
Records Management Plan (PDF) (136 KB; 25 pages) — December 2016
Research Review 2022-23 (PDF) (1.02 MB; 16 pages)
Sensitivity Appraisal Framework 2023 (Word document) (115 KB; 32 pages)
Complaints reports
Dear Library exhibition: independent investigation October 2025 (Word document) (348 KB; 10 pages)
Annual complaint summary report 2023-2024 (Word document) (68 KB; 2 pages)
Annual complaint summary report 2022-2023 (Word document) (68 KB; 2 pages)
Content
Digital Preservation Policy (Word document) (99 KB; 22 pages) — September 2023
Gaelic Language Plan (2025 to 2030) in English and Gaelic:
Gaelic Language Plan (Word document) (228 KB; 32 pages)
Plana Gàidhlig (Word document) (119 KB; 37 pages)
Takedown Policy (PDF) (44 KB; 2 pages) — May 2018
Equality impact assessment forms
Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) Forms — 2022 to June 2024
Events and exhibitions EqIA – June 2023 (Word document) (171 KB; 44 pages). Includes: 'Blood, Sweat & Tears: Scotland's HIV Story' and 'Sgeul | Story: Folktales from the Scottish Highlands'.
Events and exhibitions EqIA – December 2023 (Word document) (73 KB; 12 pages). Includes: Ned Bigham: Ossianic Ballads event.
Internal processes EqIA – June 2024 (Word document) (72.9 KB; 12 pages). Includes: Procurement and Implementation of Flexitime and Time and Attendance System.
Internal processes EqIA – December 2023 (Word document) (113 KB; 38 pages). Includes: Professions Property Services Term Contract; W0114 Causewayside Compartment Dampers and Associated Works; Cafe contract and specification for re-tender.
Internal processes EqIA – June 2023 (Word document) (170 KB; 55 pages). Includes: Causewayside Smoke Extract and Damper Works; HR & Recruitment System Replacement; Implementation of Jira Service Management solution; Revising Security Arrangements During Fire Alarm Activations.
Policies EqIA – June 2024 (Word document) (131 KB; 42 pages). Includes: Lone Working Policy; Sustainability Policy 2024; Library Plan and Budget 2024 to 2025.
Policies EqIA – December 2023 (Word document) (174 KB; 51 pages). Includes: Acceptable Use Policy; Digital Preservation Policy; Access Policy; Menopause Policy.
Policies EqIA – June 2023 (Word document) (212 KB; 75 pages). Includes: Change the corporate font from Proxima Nova to Arial 12; Cultural Restitution and Spoliation Policy; Hybrid Working Policy; Password Policy; The Library's Collection Development Policy.
Projects EqIA – June 2024 (Word document) (84.5 KB; 19 pages). Includes: www.nls.uk/ main website redevelopment project.
Projects EqIA – June 2023 (Word document) (108 KB; 13 pages). Includes: DC Thomson Project Preservation and Technical Assistant.
Public engagements – EqIA December 2023 (Word document) (80 KB; 17 pages). Includes: Advanced Higher Programme 2022-23.
Services EqIA – June 2024 (Word document) (105 KB; 24 pages). Includes: Proposed changes to George IV Bridge building opening hours; Contemplation Space.
Services EqIA – December 2023 (Word document) (172 KB; 36 pages). Includes: ArchivesSpace Software as a Service; Large format digitisation equipment for single sheet materials; Fast Pass.
Services EqIA – June 2023 (Word document) (280 KB; 56 pages). Includes: Legal Deposit User Forum (LDUF); Purchasing serf-service prints and scans; Review of Accessibility Software and Aids available in Library Reading Rooms; Virtual Reading Room (VRR) service.
Equalities mainstreaming and outcomes reports
Equalities Mainstreaming Report 2025-2029 (Word document) (1.34 MB; 110 pages)
Equalities Mainstreaming Progress Report April 2023 (Word document) (889 KB; 89 pages)
Equalities Mainstreaming and Outcomes Report — April 2021:
Equalities Outcomes 2021 part 1 (PDF) (296 KB; 22 pages)
Equalities Outcomes 2021 part 2 (PDF) (237 KB; 27 pages)
Equalities Outcomes 2021 part 3 (PDF) (524 KB; 22 pages)
Gender pay gap reports
Gender pay gap report 2019 (PDF) (102 KB; 4 pages)
Gender pay gap report 2018 (PDF) (96 KB; 3 pages)
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy 2025 (Word document) (16 pages; 365KB)
Library plan
Library Plan 2021-2022 (PDF) (2.62 MB; 38 pages)
Library Plan 2020-2021 (PDF) (2.22 MB; 35 pages)
Library Plan 2019-2020 (PDF) (1 MB; 34 pages)
People
Assistance and emotional support animal policy (Word document) (351 KB; 8 pages) — April 2025
Safeguarding Policy (Word document) (86 KB; 12 pages) — February 2024
Security Policy (Word document) (102 KB; 7 pages) — updated February 2024