Page updated: 22 May.
When you book an event, your personal information will be held and used by the National Library of Scotland and our third-party suppliers for the purposes of allowing you to attend the event and for audience research. See our privacy pages, in particular our events privacy notice for more information.
We expect attendees to behave respectfully towards presenters, guests and other audience members.
See also: Workshops and tours; Events at Kelvin Hall
Open Book
Join us for these free, weekly drop-in sessions.
We'll be reading stories and poems aloud and talking about them.
Just ask for Rachael or Anna when you arrive.
Every Monday
10am to 11am
George IV Bridge. Sessions take place in the George IV Bridge café located in the Visitor Centre.
Bookbug
Join us for weekly Bookbug sessions at the National Library of Scotland. We'll share songs, rhymes, and stories for children aged five and under.
Please note:
- Spaces are limited and booking is essential.
- Please only book tickets for adults attending.
- Bookbug sessions are intended for children five and under, but older siblings are welcome.
If you need to cancel, please either do so via Eventbrite or by contacting our Learning team for assistance.
Every Monday
10:30am to 11am
George IV Bridge
Free. Book 'Bookbug' via Eventbrite
Gaelic Bookbug at the National Library of Scotland
Join us for Gaelic Bookbug at the National Library of Scotland.
We'll share songs, rhymes, and stories for children aged five and under. No Gaelic experience required.
Thursday 25 May
10:30am to 11:30am
George IV Bridge
Free. Book 'Gaelic Bookbug' via Eventbrite
Wild History: Journeys through lost Scotland
Writer and broadcaster James Crawford goes on a journey to discover Scotland’s wild history, from the dunes of isolated beaches, the summit of lonely hills, and the hush of eerie forests
These traces of the past are not marked by plaques to explain their fading presence, or to account for what they once were. Now they are merged with the landscape and are being reclaimed by nature.
Thursday 1 June
2pm to 3pm
George IV Bridge
Book 'Wild History' via Eventbrite.
Unlocking Scots: The secret life of the Scots language
Dr Clive Young discusses his new book 'Unlocking Scots: The Secret Life of the Scots Language'.
The Scots language is the hidden treasure of Scottish culture. For many of us it is still how we speak to each other, how we express our feelings, our humour, even our Scottishness.
It was created by millions of voices coming together to share words, phrases, jokes, to understand, act on and often laugh at the world around them.
Thursday 15 June
2pm to 3pm
George IV Bridge
Book 'Unlocking Scots' via Eventbrite.
LGBT+ History Month film screening
Through film, LGBT+ people tell their stories in their own words. Drop-in for a special screening of short films from our collections that provide valuable insights into LGBT+ lives and culture in Scotland.
The film will screen on a loop throughout the day.
Saturday 24 June
10am to 4pm
George IV Bridge
No booking required.
Stories of a life and a life of stories
A talk about John Francis Campbell of Islay (1821 to 1885), who, with help, collected folktales from across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
Our guest speaker Dr Domhnall Uilleam Stiùbhart is a senior lecturer at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, a Gaelic college on the Isle of Skye. Dr Stiùbhart will use the National Library’s extensive collections to chart John Francis Campbell's eventful and extraordinary life.
Thursday 22 June
5.30pm to 6.30pm
George IV Bridge and live-streamed via YouTube.
Free. Book 'Stories of a life' via Eventbrite
Weathering the storm
Writer Kellan MacInnes.
Scottish writer Kellan MacInnes has been living with HIV since the 1980s. In this event, Kellan will be talking about his new book 'The Wild Swimmer of Kintail'.
He will also talk about how being diagnosed with HIV led him to become a published author, and how he discovered the healing power of wild land.
Thursday 13 July
5:30pm to 6:30pm
George IV Bridge.
Free. Book 'Weathering the storm' via Eventbrite from 7 June.
Gaelic film show: 'The Dove of Lochs'
'The Dove of Lochs' (or 'Calman nan Loch' in Gaelic) is an award winning documentary that charts an artist's 15-year friendship with a Gaelic speaking community in the Outer Hebrides.
This film is in Gaelic with English subtitles.
Approximate run time: 30 minutes.
The screening will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
Thursday 21 September
5:30pm to 6:30pm
George IV Bridge
Free. Book 'The Dove of Lochs' via Eventbrite from 7 June.
Storytellers and storyology
Speaker Professor Hugh Cheape.
Seanchaidhean agus seanchas. Storytellers and storyology.
This talk is about the legacy of John Francis Campbell, a folklorist from Islay, and how Hebridean storytellers understood their history. Campbell began collecting Scottish Gaelic folktales in 1859, travelling around the western Highlands and Islands. He found a treasure trove of material.
Our guest speaker, Professor Hugh Cheape, is a leading scholar in the history and culture of the Highlands. He is currently a programme leader at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.
Thursday 28 September
5:30pm to 6:30pm
George IV Bridge and live stream.
Free. Book 'Storytellers and storyology' via Eventbrite from 7 June.
Additional
Watch recorded events
Online events and filmed talks are available on the Library Player
Visitor Centre Edinburgh
A café, our shop, and our exhibitions are open to everyone who visits our George IV Bridge building in Edinburgh