The Special Collections Reading Room will be closed for a Members Connect event between 5pm and 7pm on Thursday 15 October.Learn more about the event

National Library of Scotland
A photo from the early 1900s of a penguin colony in Antarctica.

Explore the lands of snow and ice this Autumn. Our Open Shelves display showcases a selection of books on the Arctic and Antarctic.

This display will celebrates the distinct culture, landscape and ecosystems of the polar regions. Learn about indigenous culture, penguins and polar bears, tales of exploration, art and poetry, winter sports and more. Discover the impact climate change is having on these amazing frozen lands.

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 in person at George IV Bridge or on our website.  

You may be interested in

Curator-led tour of 'Rain'

Tour
26 October 2026, 2:00PM to 3:15PM
A drawing of a man in the rain holding onto an umbrella that has blown inside out and his hat has blown off.

Members connect

Display
15 October 2026, 5:30PM to 7:00PM
Four archival collections. One of handwritten pages with a photo of David Livingtson, one on Suffrage, one of Esther Inglis's manuscript, and one of a Game Register by Frank H. Young.

Screening: 'Living proof, a climate story'

Screening
24 October 2026, 10:30AM to 4:00PM
A film still showing a power plant on one side and children playing on a hill on the other.