Events

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.

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.

This event is the Scottish launch of 'Our Stories Told by Us', a groundbreaking new book celebrating the African contribution to the UK HIV response.

The co-authors will share their personal stories and reflections, as well as their journey in bringing this book to life, from concept to reality.

'Our Stories Told by Us' shares the experiences and reflections of Africans living with HIV, and of allies, doctors, and nurses, providing an authentic reflection of collective journeys. The book coincides with the 40th anniversary of the first HIV cases in the UK. It commemorates 40 years of strength, resilience, and leadership in the fight against HIV stigma.

'Our Stories Told by Us' was co-authored by five African women living in the UK:

• Angelina Namiba,
• Winnie Ssanyu-Sseruma,
• Rebecca Mbewe,
• Charity Nyirenda, and
• Memory Sachikonye.

This talk is part of the events programme for the Library's Collection in Focus exhibition, 'Blood Sweat and Tears', presented in partnership with Waverley Care.

Wednesday 11 October
5:30pm to 6:30 pm
George IV Bridge
Free. Book 'Our Stories Told by Us' via Eventbrite

Gaelic Manuscripts Curator, Dr Ulrike Hogg, explores the difficult and amusing nature of encounters between Gaelic storytellers and those who collected their stories.

The archive and published works of John Francis Campbell, collector of Gaelic folktales, leaves an interesting account of his story-collecting methods. But Campbell was not the first to find that reaching the right people and getting them to tell stories could be surprisingly difficult work. This talk will give an insight into the sometimes amusing encounters between Gaelic storytellers and collectors.

This talk is part of the events programme for the Library's exhibition, 'Sgeul/Story: Folktales from the Scottish Highlands', co-curated by Dr Hogg.

Thursday 12 October
5:30pm to 6:30 pm
George IV Bridge
Free. Book 'Recording folktales in the Highlands and Islands' via Eventbrite

A celebration of the craft of bookbinding at the National Library of Scotland.

Admire the work of the competition winners and hear from judge Dr Patricia Macdonald in a keynote speech discussing this year's theme, climate action.

Dr Macdonald will explore artistic responses to the climate challenge that we face. She will use examples of her own aerial photographic work to document the impact of climate change on our planet.

Learn more about the Elizabeth Soutar Bookbinding Competition.

Thursday 19 October
5:30pm to 6:30 pm
George IV Bridge
Free. Book 'Elizabeth Soutar bookbinding awards 2023' via Eventbrite

Family storytelling with Allison Galbraith. Based on the library's 'Sgeul / Story: Folktales from the Scottish Highlands' exhibition on Gaelic folktales. Suitable for those aged 6 and over.

Friday 20 October
2pm to 3pm
George IV Bridge
Free. Book 'Family storytelling' via Eventbrite

Hear new adaptions of tales from the John Francis Campbell collection in English and Gaelic with Allan MacDonald and musician Aidan O'Rourke. No experience with Gaelic required to attend.

Wednesday 25 October
5pm to 6pm
George IV Bridge
Free. Book 'Sguel / Story: Mighty and magic' via Eventbrite

Author Merryn Glover discusses her exploration of the Cairngorms with Nan Shepherd as companion and guiding light in her new book, 'The Hidden Fires'.

Nan Shepherd (1893 to 1981) was a Scottish writer and poet. Following in the footsteps and contours of 'The Living Mountain', Glover explores the same landscapes and themes as Shepherd’s seminal work. This is a journey separated by time but unified by space and purpose. It is a conversation between two women across nearly a century that explores how entering the life of a mountain can illuminate our own.

Merryn Glover is Australian and grew up in the Himalayas. She is an author and community gatherer. She writes fiction, drama, poetry, and non-fiction.

Thursday 26 October
5:30pm to 6:30pm
George IV Bridge
Free. Book 'Merryn Glover's journey with Nan Shepherd' via Eventbrite

This Halloween, take a journey through the fraught and dangerous times of the Witchcraft Act through story, music, and song. 

'Tales from the witches Sabbath' aims to highlight the persecution of women (and men) in Scotland's horrendous Witch Trials from the 16th to the 18th century. The Witchcraft Act of 1563 to 1736 came into fruition during a period of war, turmoil, and famine. Ordinary people fell under suspicion and would face interrogation and death.

Join storytellers Joss Cameron, John Tantalon, and Amy Dudley for a night you will not soon forget.

Tuesday 31 October
5:30pm to 6:30 pm
George IV Bridge
Free. Book 'Tales from the witches Sabbath' via Eventbrite

Writer and game designer Mike Mason discusses the process of writing for role-playing games.

Mike is Creative Director for the award-winning role-playing game (RPG) Call of Cthulhu and co-author of its seventh edition. As well as talking about conceiving, writing, and revising role-playing scenarios, Mike will discuss using real-world history in game writing. Mike will also guide the audience through the process of creating a scenario based on the Library's history and collections.

Mike's talk will be followed by a brief introduction to the Library's resources for aspiring or experienced game writers.

Tuesday 7 November
5:30pm to 7pm
George IV Bridge
Free. Book 'Designing role-playing games' via Eventbrite

A source of learning and joy, or a weapon to be hoarded and used? Professor Andrew Pettegree talks about books, libraries, and information in war.

From the invention of printing onwards, war could not be waged without books. Hear Professor Andrew Pettegree discuss the life of books in 20th century wartime, and his new book, 'The Book at War'.

'The Book at War' explores wartime publishing strategies, censorship, and the continuation of ideological warfare through print in the ostensible peace of the Cold War.

Andrew Pettegree (Fellowship of the British Academy, FBA) is Professor of Modern History at the University of St Andrews and Director of the Universal Short Title Catalogue. He is the author of sixteen books in the fields of Reformation history and the history of communication, including 'The Library: A Fragile History', co-authored with Arthur der Weduwen.

Thursday 9 November
5:30pm to 6:30 pm
George IV Bridge
Free. Book 'Books in wartime' via Eventbrite

Join us for the launch of this exciting anthology of new work by 20 contemporary writers in Scotland, exploring experiences and stories associated with their given names.

At this event, editors Rebecca Sharp, Samina Chaudhry and Marcas Mac an Tuairneir, plus a selection of the writers featured in the anthology, will discuss and read their work.

Within this selection, literary and community languages of Scotland intersect. We will hear the lived experiences of women, trans and non-binary people, writers in exile, Scots and New Scots.

Thursday 16 November
5:30pm to 6:30 pm
George IV Bridge
Free. Book 'How we talk about knives: name, language and identity' via Eventbrite

Performance from author and storyteller Jess Smith and award-winning singer-songwriter Joss Cameron.

They will perform 'Where the Feather Falls', a piece that brings story and song together to celebrate Traveller culture and traditions.

Jess Smith (British Empire Medal, BEM) is a Traveller, author, and storyteller raising awareness for her culture and sharing stories. She does this while weaving her love of the music and the tales that celebrate Scotland's Travelling folk.

Joss Cameron is an award-winning singer-songwriter with family links to the Travelling tradition. Joss researches ancient ballads and brings them back to life.

Thursday 23 November
5:30pm to 6:30 pm
George IV Bridge
Free. Book 'Scottish Traveller culture through stories and songs' via Eventbrite

Author Steven Veerapen speaks about the compelling narrative of James VI and I, a significant and misunderstood British monarch.

James VI and I (1566 to 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from July 1567, and King of England and Ireland as James I from March 1603, until his death. In his new biography, Steven Veerapen lays bare James’ life, and reveals to what extent myth and rumour has obscured him in history.

Steven Veerapen is an author born in Glasgow and raised in Paisley. Steven is fascinated by life in the 1500s, an age in which the law was as slippery as those who defied it.

Thursday 30 November
5:30pm to 6:30 pm
George IV Bridge and live-streamed on our YouTube channel.
Free. Book 'The life of James VI and I' via Eventbrite

To mark World AIDs Day, the National Library of Scotland is hosting a film screening of the 2019 documentary film 'Choose Life: Edinburgh's Battle Against AIDS'. This event is held in partnership with Waverley Care.

This landmark documentary examines the ten-year period between 1979 and 1989 when Edinburgh faced a frightening new epidemic and was dubbed the 'AIDS capital of Europe'. It meets the doctors, heroin addicts and those who used drugs, police, and locals caught up in events they could barely understand. This documentary reveals how events thousands of miles away had a massive impact on Scotland’s capital.

The screening will be introduced by the film's director Stephen Bennett and followed by a post-show discussion. The event accompanies the current display, 'Blood, Sweat and Tears: Scotland's HIV Story' which is on at the National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge Edinburgh until 2 December.

Film running time: 60mins / Event running time: 1hr 45mins (inclusive of film screening)

Friday 1 December
7pm to 9pm
George IV Bridge
Free. Book 'Choose Life: Film screening' via Eventbrite

This fun festive film screening and talk will celebrate Christmas recorded on film and video in the National Library’s moving image archive.

Curator Ann Cameron will show you the variety of films in the collection and unwrap the unique stories behind them. Expect Christmas shopping tips from the Co-Op, family memories on Christmas morning and some crazy Christmas crafting. Traditional food, drink and traditions from all corners of Scotland will be explored, including Hogmanay.

(Santa hats are optional but encouraged!)

Thursday 14 December
2pm to 3pm
George IV Bridge
Free. Book 'Christmas crackers on film!' via Eventbrite