National Library of Scotland
A bookshelf full of books and Halloween-themed decorations.

A centennial spine-chilling journey through the Library's collections. To celebrate our centenary we have selected a scary book published in each year of the Library's existence. This diverse selection of titles includes a mixture of classics and hidden gems.

About Open Shelves

Open Shelves is a changing display of reference material in the General Reading Room. This space is dedicated to showcasing under-represented topics and provides access to the Library's collections as a source of inspiration and learning. 

Please note you need to be a member of the Library to access this display. You can sign-up to become a member at George IV Bridge or on our website .

You may be interested in

Creative writing: Transformations

Workshop
4 November 2025, 3:00PM to 5:00PM
A book open with all its pages splayed out.

Frankenstein pop-up display

Display
7 November 2025, 11:00AM to 4:00PM
Book covers of 'The Monster's Wife' by Kate Horsley, 'Blood and Ice' by Liz Lochhead, and 'Monster', by Sally Beamish and Janice Galloway.

Dear Library

Exhibition
20 June 2025 to 18 April 2026
Yellow background with a sticker on it that reads "Dear Library".