Freedom of Information

Here you can find information about the National Library of Scotland that we make available on our website without request. We offer alternative arrangements for people who do not want to, or cannot, access the information online. For example, we can usually arrange to send information to you in paper copy, although there may be a photocopying and postage charge for this (see 'Charges').

You can make a request online for access to any information that we have on record that isn't in our publication scheme under the terms of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Or you can write to:

Data Protection Officer
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh
EH1 1EW

Email: foisa@nls.uk

For requests about environmental information, see our page about Environmental Information Regulations.

See our Classes of Information page for more information.

We will publish the information we hold that falls within the classes of information. If a document contains information that is exempt under Scotland's freedom of information laws (for example where personal data is involved), we will remove or 'black out' the information before publication and explain why.

Sometimes people make Freedom of Information (FOI) requests for access to information in books and other items in our collections. These requests are nearly always exempt under section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act, because this information is already in the public domain.

If your request is for information from our collections rather than for information about the Library as an organisation, you can ask a question online.

Because of our role as a library, it is important to note that copyright applies differently to two broad categories of information in the Library:

• Our own corporate information — that is, information that we produce about our business or in the course of our business.

• Material in our collections (books, manuscripts, maps and so on).

Library corporate information

Without formal permission you can copy or reproduce Library corporate information — reports, statistics, policies and procedures, corporate correspondence, and so on — where we hold the copyright, provided that:

• It is copied or reproduced accurately;

• It is not used in a misleading context, and

• The source of the material is identified.

Material in our collections

Copyright restrictions are likely to apply to material in our collections. Our website has information about:

• Copyright and re-use permission

• The Library's copying services

With the exception of our commercial publications in class 8, all of the information in our publication scheme is free and is usually available online. Hard copies of the information can also be provided on request to the Data Protection Officer (contact details below).

You do not have to pay for:

• Any information downloaded from our website.

• A single copy of any corporate document.

• Information sent in electronic format as an email attachment.

• Copies of any corporate publications which are already printed and available for free.

You may have to pay for:

• Printing or photocopying costs of 10p per page (unless your request is for fewer than 50 pages or if it is a single document).

• Information provided on CD-ROM (which will be charged at 50p per computer disc).

• Postage or other delivery (Royal Mail first class).

You will have to pay for:

• Any commercial publications falling under class 8 of this scheme.

• Reprographic costs for items from our national collections.

We will always tell you what the cost is before providing the information to you.

If you are dissatisfied with the accessibility of information in the Publication Scheme, or with the way in which we have dealt with your request for information, you may raise the matter with us or ask the Library to conduct a review of our decision(s) regarding your request.

Please contact:

Data Protection Officer
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh
EH1 1EW

Email: foisa@nls.uk

To begin a review of a decision we have made about your request, please contact us in writing (including by letter or email) or by another recorded form (for example, audio or video recording) and describe the original request, explain your dissatisfaction, and provide an address for correspondence.

You have 40 working days from receipt of our decision or response to your request to submit a request for review. We will respond within 20 working days of receipt of your request for review.

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of a review, you can launch an appeal with the Scottish Information Commissioner.