National Library of Scotland
A scene from 'Macbeth' with three witches raising their arms at Macbeth who is riding a horse.

'Macbeth', 1901, published by Blackie, London. Shelfmark: [Am].5/5.80

To coincide with the launch of our new exhibition 'Rain', we are showcasing books about weather lore, myths, and manipulation in our General Reading Room.

From red skies that delight or warn shepherds, to contrary winds and tempests conjured by witches, this display explores the ways we understand, explain and predict the weather.

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

Rain

Exhibition
19 June 2026 to 30 April 2027
Words from a page raining down on a woman holding an umbrella.

Paperback Revolutions

Exhibition
28 May to 24 October 2026
A black and white photo of a woman next to a large shelf of books which have been coloured.

Rain man: Sean Batty on why Scotland loves to hate its weather

STV meteorologist Sean Batty explores Scotland's love-hate relationship with rain and a changing climate.
Person standing in a television studio beside a screen displaying the STV Weather logo.