Our buildings remain closed for events due to coronavirus (COVID-19), but you can take part in an online talk or workshop. Update on Library opening
Page updated: 21 October.
Online events
See also: Online workshops
Beekeeping for beginners: A personal journey
Gael Wilkinson shares insights and lessons learned from her first foray into beekeeping in this virtual event.
Gael has her own growing apiary with four active hives, and produces small batch artisan honey and beeswax products throughout the year. Take a break from your busy day to learn more about beekeeping.
Thursday 22 October
17.00-17.30
Free. Book 'Beekeeping for beginners' via
Eventbrite.
When you book, you will receive a link to join the session, delivered on the Zoom video conferencing service. Your personal information will be held and used by the National Library of Scotland and Zoom for the purposes of allowing you to join the event. For full information about how the Library will hold and use your personal information, see our privacy pages, in particular our event booking privacy notice.
Borders Witch Hunt with Mary Craig
Explore the true stories of the Scottish Borders witch trials with Mary Craig as she introduces her new book, Borders Witch Hunt.
Mary explores the social, political, geographical, religious and legal structures that led to the increased amount of witch trials and executions in the Scottish Borders, as well as looking at specific trials and the role of women, both as accuser and accused.
Thursday 29 October
14.00-14.45
Free. Book 'Borders Witch Hunt' via
Eventbrite.
A Spell in the Wild
In this webinar and her new book, A Spell in the Wild, Alice Tarbuck explores what it means to be a witch today.
Where 'witch' was once a dangerous — and often deadly — accusation, it is now a proud self-definition. As the world becomes ever more complicated and we face ecological, political, social and global health crises, witchcraft is experiencing a resurgence. Magic is back.
Friday 30 October
14.00-14.45
Free. Book 'A Spell in the Wild' via
Eventbrite.
When you book, you will receive a link to join the session, delivered on the Zoom video conferencing service. Your personal information will be held and used by the National Library of Scotland and Zoom for the purposes of allowing you to join the event. For full information about how the Library will hold and use your personal information, see our privacy pages, in particular our event booking privacy notice.
Huts: A Place Beyond with Lesley Riddoch
Join broadcaster and journalist Lesley Riddoch as she discusses her new book and innovative ways to reconnect with nature.
Lesley suggests that thousands of woodland huts would give Scots a vital post-COVID connection with nature and affordable, low-impact holidays in their own beautiful land — at last.
Tuesday 3 November
17.00-17.45
Free. Book 'Huts: A Place Beyond' via
Eventbrite.
When you book, you will receive a link to join the session, delivered on the Zoom video conferencing service. Your personal information will be held and used by the National Library of Scotland and Zoom for the purposes of allowing you to join the event. For full information about how the Library will hold and use your personal information, see our privacy pages, in particular our event booking privacy notice.
Plague, princes and political 'embarras': Henrietta Liston's Constantinople
Join us to hear about a forthcoming book on Henrietta Liston's writings on her time in Turkey.
The editors of 'Henrietta Liston's Travels: The Turkish Journals 1812-1820' offer insights into editing Liston's fascinating manuscripts, into her views on life 'à la Turque' and her observations on sultanic power, plague, and Ottoman women in an empire on the eve of reform.
Wednesday 4 November
17.00-17.45
Free. Book 'Henrietta Liston's
Constantinople' via Eventbrite.
When you book, you will receive a link to join the session, delivered on the Zoom video conferencing service. Your personal information will be held and used by the National Library of Scotland and Zoom for the purposes of allowing you to join the event. For full information about how the Library will hold and use your personal information, see our privacy pages, in particular our event booking privacy notice.
Discover the Northern Lighthouse Board with Mike Bullock
Mike Bullock, Chief Executive of the Northern Lighthouse Board, discusses the mission and history of this remarkable organisation in this online talk.
Tuesday 10 November
17.00-17.45
Free. Book 'Northern Lighthouse Board' via
Eventbrite.
When you book, you will receive a link to join the session, delivered on the Zoom video conferencing service. Your personal information will be held and used by the National Library of Scotland and Zoom for the purposes of allowing you to join the event. For full information about how the Library will hold and use your personal information, see our privacy pages, in particular our event booking privacy notice.
Muriel Spark: Finding her form
Join us for the annual Muriel Spark lecture with poet and writer Fiona Sampson.
Muriel Spark's fiction emerged when she had already distinguished herself as a poet, editor and biographer. This catholic formation is relatively unusual for a British novelist, and tells us something about British culture in the 1940s and '50s.
It also sheds fascinating light on Spark's exceptional literary intelligence.
Thursday 12 November
17.00-17.45
Free. Book 'Muriel Spark' via
Eventbrite.
When you book, you will receive a link to join the session, delivered on the Zoom video conferencing service. Your personal information will be held and used by the National Library of Scotland and Zoom for the purposes of allowing you to join the event. For full information about how the Library will hold and use your personal information, see our privacy pages, in particular our event booking privacy notice.
Treasure Islands by Alec Crawford
Join Alec on Robert Louis Stevenson Day to hear his fascinating story of dramatic deep sea dives, historic shipwrecks, and more.
Alec Crawford has dived countless wrecks and is one of the pioneers of deep-water recovery, from galleons and container ships to trawlers and ocean liners.
Friday 13 November
14.00-14.45
Free. Book 'Treasure Islands by Alec
Crawford' via Eventbrite.
When you book, you will receive a link to join the session, delivered on the Zoom video conferencing service. Your personal information will be held and used by the National Library of Scotland and Zoom for the purposes of allowing you to join the event. For full information about how the Library will hold and use your personal information, see our privacy pages, in particular our event booking privacy notice.
Mary Cameron: Life in paint
Dr Helen Scott of the City Art Centre shares the story of Edinburgh born painter, Mary Cameron, in this webinar.
Thursday 19 November
17.00-17.45
Free. Book 'Mary Cameron' via
Eventbrite.
When you book, you will receive a link to join the session, delivered on the Zoom video conferencing service. Your personal information will be held and used by the National Library of Scotland and Zoom for the purposes of allowing you to join the event. For full information about how the Library will hold and use your personal information, see our privacy pages, in particular our event booking privacy notice.
A Tomb with a View: Peter Ross in conversation with Dani Garavelli
Join Peter Ross in conversation to hear about his new book, 'A Tomb with a View', a celebration of remarkable graveyards and the stories within.
'A Tomb With A View' is an account of a year spent travelling around Britain and beyond, seeking out the stories and glories of graveyards.
Tuesday 24 November
17.00-17.45
Free. Book 'A Tomb with a View' via
Eventbrite.
When you book, you will receive a link to join the session, delivered on the Zoom video conferencing service. Your personal information will be held and used by the National Library of Scotland and Zoom for the purposes of allowing you to join the event. For full information about how the Library will hold and use your personal information, see our privacy pages, in particular our event booking privacy notice.
Thomas Muir of Huntershill on slavery: A rediscovered legal thesis
Learn about Thomas Muir's thesis and views on slavery in the 3rd Annual Thomas Muir Lecture.
Led by Professor Gerard Carruthers and Martyn Jones.
This online talk asks how Muir viewed the legality of slavery and how did his perspective on the topic relate to his political ideas more generally?
Thursday 26 November
17.00-17.45
Free. Book 'Thomas Muir of Huntershill' via
Eventbrite.
When you book, you will receive a link to join the session, delivered on the Zoom video conferencing service. Your personal information will be held and used by the National Library of Scotland and Zoom for the purposes of allowing you to join the event. For full information about how the Library will hold and use your personal information, see our privacy pages, in particular our event booking privacy notice.
Scotland the Braw with photographer Alan McCredie
Alan McCredie introduces his new book, Scotland the Braw, a collection of photographs documenting his travels around this bonnie land.
In addition to sharing beautiful images from his journey across Scotland, Alan will share stories from his trip, such as when he risked his life for his art running from grumpy sheep in Dumfries and Galloway.
Monday 30 November
17.00-17.45
Free. Book 'Scotland the Braw' via
Eventbrite.
When you book, you will receive a link to join the session, delivered on the Zoom video conferencing service. Your personal information will be held and used by the National Library of Scotland and Zoom for the purposes of allowing you to join the event. For full information about how the Library will hold and use your personal information, see our privacy pages, in particular our event booking privacy notice.
