Donate books, archives or recordings

The Library welcomes offers of items that help us tell Scotland’s story. Every potential donation is carefully reviewed against our Collection Development Policy (Word document) (139 KB; 65 pages).

Get in touch

If you are considering donating an item, please contact us before sending anything in. We can help identify the right collection area and advise on next steps.

Email the Acquisitions team to discuss using donations@nls.uk

We cannot return donated items to donors once they have been sent to the Library.

What are we looking for?

We collect books, journals archives, films, maps, music and more, especially items with a Scottish connection or subject. We’re particularly interested in material that reflect Scottish life, creativity, and history, including the voices and stories that have too often gone unheard.

We will consider items such as:

• Manuscripts and personal papers

• Rare books (especially pre-1900)

• Scottish music, maps, and printed ephemera

• Books and journals published in Scotland, by Scottish authors or with Scottish subject matter

• Films and recordings through our Moving Image Archive

Note, we do not usually accept duplicates of items already held in our collections and we may dispose of donations that do not meet our Collection Development Policy (Word document) (139 KB; 65 pages).

Moving image and sound materials

If you have Scottish-related recordings, including amateur films, cinema memorabilia, or oral history, contact the Moving Image & Sounds Collections. You can use our online enquiry form or call 0141 880 2308.