The Special Collections Reading Room will be closed 10am to 1pm on Wednesday 16 September. It will then reopen until our usual closing time of 7pm.

National Library of Scotland

Lending policy

Last updated
31 August 2026
Estimated reading time
2 minutes

Document supply

The collections of the National Library of Scotland consist of material acquired via legal deposit, purchase and donation. Subject to individual assessment of suitability for lending, purchased and donated material may be available for inter-lending.

Material received through legal deposit is not available for lending.

Lending criteria

In order to be eligible for loan, an item in our collection must be:

  • Received through purchase or donation

  • An individual monograph

  • Published after 1925

If an item meets the above criteria we will conduct further checks on its condition and value prior to offering it for loan.

We will not lend items that are part of a large series or set, serial publications, microfilm or microfiche, or manuscript material.

We will lend items strictly for reference use only in the requesting library.

Conditions of loan

Libraries being supplied with items from Library collections must adhere to the following conditions of loan:

  • The requesting library is responsible for the security and conservation of items lent by the Library

  • We will charge for lost or damaged items at full replacement costs, plus a non-refundable handling fee and any relevant taxes

  • All items are lent on 'reference use only' terms, the item can only be consulted within the requesting library and it is the responsibility of the requesting library to comply with this

  • Photocopying is only allowed where overhead copying or scanning equipment is in place and must be within copyright limits

  • The requesting library must return items to the Library with full postal insurance to cover the value of the item.

Loan periods

UK and Ireland

Libraries in the UK and Ireland can usually borrow items for one month. Unless there is a waiting list, items are normally renewable up to a maximum loan period of six months.

Outside the UK and Ireland

Libraries outside the UK and Ireland can usually borrow items for a period of three months. Renewals can be made for one period of three months. This renewal may not be possible if there is a waiting list for the item. Occasionally you may be able to apply for a special loan period.

We will recall overdue items.