National Library of Scotland events are free and take place in our George IV Bridge Building, unless we state otherwise.
January events | February events | March events
List updated: 24 January.
January events
See also:
Workshops and tours
Kelvin Hall events
Capital punishment and execution broadsides in Scotland
Three short talks about the history and cultural legacy of capital punishment in Scotland. Simon McFadden, Dr Katrina Morrison and Professor Anne Schwan, all from Edinburgh Napier University each speak about the death penalty in Scotland and its representation in execution broadsides. To illustrate the points they make, they refer to the National Library of Scotland's online collection of broadsides from 1650 and 1910 — 'The Word on the Street'.
Tuesday 28 January
14.00
Free. This event is fully booked.
The 1820s
Spectacles, scandals and sensations
A series of discussions about the culture and society of the 1820s. Five speakers use materials from the National Library of Scotland's collections to illustrate the varied spectacles, scandals and sensations of this remarkable decade. This event promises to 'go back in time' and bring into focus the vibrant and rapidly-changing culture of the reign of George IV.
Thursday 30 January
17.30
Free. This event is fully booked.
February events
See also:
Workshops and tours
Kelvin Hall events
StAnza poetry festival launch
An event to launch StAnza, Scotland's International Poetry Festival, celebrating the written and spoken word in all its forms. The 2020 StAnza programme takes place from 4-8 March in St Andrews, with including prize-winning poets like Jen Hadfield, Carolyn Forché, Joelle Taylor and Charlotte Van Der Broeckand. Learn about what is planned for the StAnza 2020 programme at this launch, and enjoy a selection of short poetry readings and music.
Tuesday 4 February
14.00
Free. Book 'StAnza poetry festival launch' on Eventbrite or phone 0131 623 3734.
The Lost Poets 40 years on
A celebratory grand reunion!
Ron Butlin, Andrew Greig, Liz Lochhead, Brian McCabe and musician Jim Hutcheson come together for a grand reunion. Known as 'The Lost Poets', they were considered Scotland's response to the Liverpool Poets in the 1970s and 1980s. For many years they were regulars at the Edinburgh Fringe, and their unique blend of poetry and music helped inspire today's spoken word movement. Now, as highly successful novelists, playwrights and visual artists, they continue to publish poetry. Join them to celebrate their achievements.
Thursday 6 February
14.00
Free. This event is fully booked.
A celebration of the life and work of Nan Shepherd
On the anniversary of her birthday, experts explore Nan Shepherd's life and writing. Dr Scott Lyall is joined by Dr Kerri Andrews, Erlend Clouston, Professor Alison Lumsden and Dr Samantha Walton. Together they discuss the significance of Nan's 'The Living Mountain', and her novels and poetry. They consider her place in the Scottish Literary Renaissance, and her influence on nature writing today. Actress Sarah Innes also performs readings of Nan's work. The event is supported by the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Tuesday 11 February
17.30
Free. This event is fully booked.
Strike for Freedom
Frederick Douglass in Scotland
Professor Bernier, from the University of Edinburgh, discusses the African American 'struggle for liberty' in Scotland. She traces the transatlantic tours of those who fought for freedom, such as Ida B Wells-Barnett, Josiah Henson, Sarah Parker Remond and Frederick Douglass. After the talk, director and producer Parisa Urquhart introduces a screening of her 15-minute documentary 'Strike for Freedom: Frederick Douglass in Scotland'. Read more about our past display about Frederick Douglass.
Wednesday 12 February
14.00
Free. Book 'Strike for Freedom — Frederick Douglass in Scotland' on Eventbrite or phone 0131 623 3734.
The intriguing story of the island of Scarp
An illustrated talk about the Scottish island of Scarp. Scarp was once home to a significant population, whose lives were both intimately shaped by the land and characterised by resilience, community and faith. Broadcaster and sporting academic Dr Hugh Dan MacLennan, and artist Gillies Campbell are both children of Scarp natives. Together they reveal a unique history and culture through the Library's archives, photographs, and Gillies' original artworks.
Thursday 20 February
14.00
Free. This event is fully booked.
Scotland's relationship with the Atlantic slave trade
Matthew Lee, a PhD student co-supervised by staff at the National Library of Scotland, examines Scotland's relationship with the Atlantic slave trade. This relationship has become an increasingly prominent aspect of Scottish history. Matthew draws on his work on a recent cataloguing project to categorise the Library's collections on the subject. Referring to Library material, he highlights interesting and complicated stories which reveal how Scotland was involved with the slave trade.
Tuesday 25 February
14.00
Free. Book 'Scotland's relationship with the Atlantic slave trade' on Eventbrite or phone 0131 623 3734.
Mountaineering and meteorology
A history of the Ben Nevis observatory
Dr Simon Naylor, the 2019 National Library of Scotland Graham Brown Research Fellow presents a history of the Ben Nevis observatory. The station operated from 1883 until 1904, housing a small number of permanent staff. It attracted notable meteorologists, mountaineers and thousands of tourists. Some came to collect weather data and conduct experiments, others came in the hope of dramatic sunrises and sublime landscape views.
Thursday 27 February
14.00
Free. Book 'Mountaineering and meteorology — a history of the Ben Nevis observatory' on Eventbrite or phone 0131 623 3734.
March events
See also:
Workshops and tours
Kelvin Hall events
Present but peripheral
Women and the Scottish Enlightenment
Dr Rosalind Carr explores women's involvement in the Scottish Enlightenment. She reasons that, although women were active participants in public life during this period, it would be wrong to view the century as an era of burgeoning equality. Instead, she argues, the Enlightenment was a largely male affair. Examining 18th-century masculinity, Rosalind suggests the exclusion of women resulted from Scotsmen's anxiety around effeminacy and the Enlightenment focus on the masculine worlds of the universities and law.
Tuesday 3 March
14.00
Free. Book 'Present but peripheral — women and the Scottish Enlightenment' on Eventbrite or phone 0131 623 3734.
How books shape relationships
Professor Tom Mole considers the ways books structure and mediate our relationships, whether professional, social, familial or romantic. Beginning in childhood, books become intimately tangled up in our relationships with others. We inherit books, gift them, loan them, borrow and bequeath them. Drawing on a variety of historical and contemporary examples, Tom explores the place of books as material objects that connect people. He asks whether those connections will change in the digital age.
Thursday 5 March
17.30
Free. Book 'How books shape relationships' on Eventbrite or phone 0131 623 3734.
Who Taught Her That?
An interactive digital exhibition to celebrate Women's History Month. Edinburgh University MSc students present 'Who Taught Her That?' — an immersive exhibit and provide a conversation space to explore advice given to women throughout modern history. They consider how advice received by women can be shared through new media and technologies. In preparation for the event, join the conversation and share advice you have received — both good and bad — on social media using '#WhoTaughtHerThat'.
Friday 6 March 12.00-17.00
Saturday 7 March 10.00-17.00
Monday 9 March 10.00-18.00
Free. Either drop in, register your interest for 'Who Taught Her That?' on Eventbrite or phone 0131 623 3734.
Secret histories of the West Indies
A thought-provoking examination of Leonora Sansay's novel, 'Secret History; Or, The Horrors of St. Domingo' alongside Henrietta Liston's account of her 19th-century Caribbean tour. Comparing the texts, Dr Dana Van Kooy suggests each invites its readers to bear witness to suffering while encouraging complicity in blotting out the past. She argues both authors offer their readers a precarious 'safe place' from which to view the terrifying events of the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804).
Tuesday 10 March
14.00
Free. Book 'Secret histories of the West Indies' on Eventbrite or phone 0131 623 3734.
Alexander Bain
The real father of television
Ivan Ruddock, President of the Kirkintilloch and District Society of Antiquaries, discusses Alexander Bain's life and legacy in this talk. Recognised as the father of television, Alexander was born in Caithness and died in Kirkintilloch. After serving his apprenticeship, he became an entrepreneur and inventor, creating the electric clock and fax machine and contributing towards the development of the electric telegraph. In 2016, Alexander Bain was posthumously awarded an Emmy. Join us to learn more about this fascinating Scotsman.
Thursday 12 March
14.00
Free. Book 'Alexander Bain — the real father of television' on Eventbrite or phone 0131 623 3734.
Falling between the cracks
Researching Scotland's mountain women
National Library of Scotland Maps Curator, Paula Williams explores the stories of early female mountaineers through the Library collections. Paula describes how women's writing and voices are often hidden and hushed in cultural heritage collections. She presents evidence to show how women have been obscured, vanishing behind their husband's names, publishing for a socially critical audience, or simply being banished to a footnote. Her talk is in preparation for a forthcoming exhibition at the Library, opening later in 2020.
Tuesday 17 March
14.00
Free. Book 'Falling between the cracks — researching Scotland's mountain women' on Eventbrite or phone 0131 623 3734.
The history of the lady
Historian, writer and feminist campaigner, Sara Sheridan, talks about 'the lady'. Often viewed as an icon of British womanhood, 'the lady' has been the subject of Sara’s research, previously discussed on BBC Radio Four's 'Woman's Hour'. Considering the role of 'the lady' in female history Sara explores how this connects to what being a lady means today. Drawing on examples from Kate Middleton to Kate Adie, she questions if the term 'the lady' still has relevance in today's society.
Thursday 19 March
14.00
Free. Book 'The history of the lady' on Eventbrite or phone 0131 623 3734.
Knit night at the National Library
An evening of knitting at the National Library of Scotland. Bring along your latest project to work on while you enjoy a cuppa and a chat with fellow knitters. Peruse a range of interesting knitting items from the Library collections to inspire your creations. You can also enjoy a compilation of films on 'all things woolly' being screened from our Moving Image Archive. Refreshments are provided.
Thursday 19 March
18.00-20.00
Free. Either drop in, register your interest for 'Knit night at the National Library' on Eventbrite or phone 0131 623 3734.
Allan Ramsay — writing the Scots Enlightenment
Collections in Focus display event
An event to formally launch the National Library of Scotland's display about Allan Ramsay and his work. Professor Murray Pittock and a team of researchers from the University of Glasgow are working on a project 'The Collected Works of Allan Ramsay', funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Together they speak about their research and editing work, revealing interesting insights into Allan Ramsay's work. The event is followed by a drinks reception. The display runs from 20 February until 16 May.
Thursday 26 March
16.30-18.00
Free. Book 'Allan Ramsay — writing the Scots Enlightenment' on Eventbrite or phone 0131 623 3734.
