Due to essential updates, there may be disruption to some online services between Thursday 14 and Friday 15 May.

National Library of Scotland

What's on

Find out about our events and exhibitions in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and online.

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Treasures of the National Library of Scotland

Exhibition
Permanent
The Treasures exhibition with several open books and a map on display in cases.

OUTWITH – National Library around Scotland

Exhibition
13 September 2025 to 20 June 2026
An open book with its pages flying up.

Peter Liversidge: The Rules of the Library

Display
5 February to 19 December 2026
The mezzanine of the General Reading Room with the 'The Rules of the Library' artwork on display.

Outwith: Valda, MacDiarmid and Whalsay

Exhibition
28 March to 20 June 2026
Hugh MacDiarmid standing on a rock in Whalsay next to Valda Grieve who is sitting and holding their baby Michael.

Open Shelves: Curtain up!

Display
2 April to 30 June 2026
A pop-up theatre book for children showing a scene from 'Little Red Riding Hood'.

OUTWITH: National Library around Shetland

Talk, Workshop, Festival
12 to 15 May 2026
Several overlapping maps of Scotland, with a map of Shetland in the middle.

The centenary of the General Strike in Scotland

Talk
12 May 2026, 5:00PM to 7:00PM
Black and white photo of striking miners, with the front page of Scottish Worker newspaper superimposed over it, and a photo of Dr Andy Clark.

Gaelic bookbug

Workshop
14 May 2026, 10:30AM to 11:00AM
The bookbug on a yellow background.

Welcome to the Library tours

Tour
14 May 2026, 3:00PM to 3:30PM
The outside of the Library building on George IV Bridge, also showing the people on the footpath outside and traffic on the road.

Welcome to the Library tours

Tour
16 May 2026, 11:30AM to 12:00PM
The outside of the Library building on George IV Bridge, also showing the people on the footpath outside and traffic on the road.

Open Book

Reading
18 May 2026, 10:15AM to 11:15AM
A group of people sitting around a table reading books.

Creative writing: Spellcasting

Workshop
19 May 2026, 3:00PM to 5:00PM
Gaelic wheel charm.