The Library holds the surviving records of many of the old Scottish trade incorporations. Dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries, these include records of:
- The Perth Hammermen
- The Edinburgh Candlemakers
- The Linlithgow Shoemakers
- The Skinners of Kelso.
From the records of businesses such as William Wilson, Tartan Manufacturer in Bannockburn, to the personal archives of craftsmen and women, Scotland's rich heritage of traditional and modern crafts is well represented in the Library's holdings.
The flourishing post-Second World War craft industry in Scotland is documented in the records of the Scottish Crafts Centre. These are supplemented by the personal papers of craftsmen such as contemporary potters and weavers.