National Library of Scotland at Kelvin Hall events are free and take place at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow, unless we state otherwise.
October events | November events | December events
List updated: 10 October.
October events
See also:
Workshops and tours
Kelvin Hall events
Getting ready for the Mòd at Kelvin Hall
The annual Mòd is Scotland's premier Gaelic festival. To prepare for this year's Mòd, there is a day of free activities at Kelvin Hall. Events include a Gaelic song taster workshop, curator 'show and tell' sessions and archive footage and recordings.
Friday 11 October
10.00-17.00
Free. Drop-in for 'show and tell' sessions and to see archive film and recordings.
Gaelic song workshop
Singer and researcher Naomi Harvey brings together popular songs from the Library's manuscripts, printed collections and early audio recordings. She leads an afternoon of Gaelic singing suitable for all.
11:30-13.00
Free. Book 'Gaelic song workshop' on Eventbrite or phone 0845 366 4629.
Discovering family history at Kelvin Hall
Our huge range of digital resources can help you with your ancestral research. Learn how to use them at this workshop. If you have discovered the outline of your family history and want to find out more about your ancestors' lives, our digital resources can help. Learn how to use our huge range of digital resources for your ancestral research at this workshop. The session lasts approximately 90 minutes.
Tuesday 15 October
11.30
Free. Book 'Discovering family history at Kelvin Hall' on Eventbrite or phone 0845 366 4629.
Getting started with the Moving Image Archive
The National Library of Scotland's Moving Image Archive has been collecting and preserving films since 1976. All of Scots life can be seen: adverts, documentaries, home movies, promotional films, amateur comedies, educational programmes and more. This workshop is designed to introduce you to the archive and guide you through getting the most from searching our catalogue. Workshop lasts around one hour.
Wednesday 16 October
18.00
Free. Book 'Getting started with the Moving Image Archive' on Eventbrite or phone 0845 366 4629.
Welcome to Britain
A screening of footage portraying the different experiences of people coming to Britain from 1902-1991. Themes conveyed in the films include early multi-culturalism and the traditions and comforts of immigrant communities. Stories of second generation immigrants amid racism and rioting in the 1970s and 1980s are also captured on film. Showing lasts one hour and 40 minutes.
Wednesday 23 October
17.30
Free. Book 'Welcome to Britain' on Eventbrite or phone 0845 366 4629.
November events
See also:
Workshops and tours
Kelvin Hall events
The 51st (Highland) Division
Engine of destruction
Colin Campbell, author of 'The 51st (Highland) Division in the Great War: Engine of Destruction', presents an illustrated talk about this remarkable division. Originally a part-time Territorial Force division, it went overseas in May 1915 and became known as 'Harper's Duds'. It lost this nickname when it took a previously impregnable position at Beaumont-Hamel in late 1916. Thereafter it was regarded as an elite fighting division and was deployed as an assault division until the end of the war.
Saturday 2 November
14.00
Free. Book 'The 51st (Highland) Division — Engine of destruction' on Eventbrite or phone 0845 366 4629.
Voices heard — Japanese documentaries
A film screening and discussion in partnership with Japan Desk Scotland. New work is shown and is followed by creative conversations. In this event, the film 'Live a librarian — Sheila Craik' (2019) produced by Fumi Nakabachi and Yushin Toda is screened. It describes what living and working as a librarian is like. 'Remember Lt. Jack Young — Ken Fyfe' (2019) is also being shown, which tells the story of a soldier killed by Japanese armed forces in 1944.
Wednesday 6 November
18.00-19.30
Free. Book 'Voices heard — Japanese documentaries' on Eventbrite or phone 0845 366 4629.
CINE[STHESIA] — Mental Health in Focus
Mental health and wellbeing is the theme of the November CINE[STHESIA]. A specially-curated programme of films has been created from the Moving Image Archive. The showing invites viewers to reflect on the changing perceptions, attitudes and conceptualisations of mental health, as portrayed on screen through the years.
Wednesday 13 November
18.00
Saturday 16 November
14.00
Free. Book 'CINE[STHESIA] Mental Health in Focus' on Eventbrite or phone 0845 366 4629.
Getting started with the Moving Image Archive
The National Library of Scotland's Moving Image Archive has been collecting and preserving films since 1976. All of Scots life can be seen: adverts, documentaries, home movies, promotional films, amateur comedies, educational programmes and more. This workshop is designed to introduce you to the archive and guide you through getting the most from searching our catalogue. Workshop lasts around one hour.
Wednesday 20 November
18.00
Free. Book 'Getting started with the Moving Image Archive' on Eventbrite or phone 0845 366 4629.
Zine workshop
To mark Book Week Scotland we invite you to a workshop to make your own 'zine'. Zines are a type of handmade magazine, published by you and can be about whatever you like. Workshop is suitable for anyone from 5 years and older. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Saturday 23 November
11.00
Free. Book 'Zine workshop' on Eventbrite or phone 0845 366 4629.
Discovering family history at Kelvin Hall
Our huge range of digital resources can help you with your ancestral research. Learn how to use them at this workshop. If you have discovered the outline of your family history and want to find out more about your ancestors' lives, our digital resources can help. Learn how to use our huge range of digital resources for your ancestral research at this workshop. The session takes approximately 90 minutes.
Saturday 30 November
13.00
Free. Book 'Discovering family history at Kelvin Hall' on Eventbrite or phone 0845 366 4629.
December events
See also:
Workshops and tours
Kelvin Hall events
Maps for family and local history
Discover how maps can help with ancestral or local history research. Learn about the information historical maps of Scotland can provide. Explore 200,000 maps on our map images website, use our geo-referenced viewing tools and find out how to print and buy maps. This introductory talk, and question and answer session, lasts an hour, followed by a 30-minute supported session on the maps website. To participate in this session, you will need to have registered for a library card.
Wednesday 4 December
14.00
Free. Book 'Maps for family and local history' on Eventbrite or phone 0845 366 4629.
Getting started with the Moving Image Archive
The National Library of Scotland's Moving Image Archive has been collecting and preserving films since 1976. All of Scots life can be seen: adverts, documentaries, home movies, promotional films, amateur comedies, educational programmes and more. This workshop is designed to introduce you to the archive and guide you through getting the most from searching our catalogue. Workshop lasts around one hour.
Friday 6 December
14.00
Free. Book 'Getting started with the Moving Image Archive' on Eventbrite or phone 0845 366 4629.
Christmas screening
A selection of Christmas crackers from the vaults of the National Library of Scotland's Moving Image Archive. Our annual Christmas film screening takes place in the Kelvin Hall auditorium, with footage to enjoy on the big screen.
Wednesday 11 December
18.00-19.00
Free. Book 'Christmas screening' on Eventbrite or phone 0845 366 4629.
Discovering family history at Kelvin Hall
Our huge range of digital resources can help you with your ancestral research. Learn how to use them at this workshop. If you have discovered the outline of your family history and want to find out more about your ancestors' lives, our digital resources can help. Learn how to use our huge range of digital resources for your ancestral research at this workshop. The session takes approximately 90 minutes.
Thursday 12 December
14.00
Free. Book 'Discovering family history at Kelvin Hall' on Eventbrite or phone 0845 366 4629.
CINE[STHESIA] — Winter sports
Enjoy watching a collection of curated films on the theme of winter sports, featuring films from the Moving Image Archive. With footage of activities like curling and skiing, visions of snow and ice will set the mood for enjoying wintry outdoor activities. Come along to this winter CINE[STHESIA] wearing your favourite festive jumper!
Friday 13 December
13.30-16.30
Saturday 14 December
10.30-16.30
Free. No need to book, just drop in.
Voices heard — Japanese documentaries
A film screening and discussion in partnership with Japan Desk Scotland. New work is shown and creative conversations follow. This event includes two different perspectives on teaching. The film 'Teach English in Japan — Sheona MacAulay' (2019) captures Sheona's experiences teaching and living in Japan for two years. By contrast, the view from a Japanese speaker is conveyed in 'Teach Scottish Country Dancing in Scotland — Atsuko Clement' (2019).
Wednesday 18 December
18.00-19.30
Free. Book 'Voices heard — Japanese documentaries' on Eventbrite or phone 0845 366 4629.