OUTWITH – National Library around Scotland

To mark the Library's centenary, cultural partners in Aberdeen, Perth and Shetland have selected treasures to borrow from our national collections that resonate locally. People can to get up close to fascinating objects, explore their stories and find out more through programmes and events.

Shetland 28 March to 20 June 2026

Shetland Museum and Archives are showcasing original manuscripts and personal letters from Library collections in a landmark exhibition called 'Outwith: Valda, MacDiarmid and Whalsay'. It explores the lives of Scottish poet Hugh MacDiarmid and his wife Valda during their time in Whalsay, Shetland.

Find out more about 'Outwith: Valda, MacDiarmid and Whalsay'

We'll be taking National Library Live to Shetland Library and beyond in May. With free taster talks, family story sessions and a range of drop-in games and activities for all ages, everyone is welcome to discover more about the National Library of Scotland, who we are and what we do.

Find out more about OUTWITH events in Shetland

Previous OUTWITH locations

Aberdeen 13 September 2025 to 4 January 2026

'OUTWITH: National Library around Scotland' began in Aberdeen Art Gallery with the loan of an early edition of Scottish secular music, 'Songs and Fancies', published by John Forbes in Aberdeen in 1682. A special programme of talks and performances brought the book to life, and we partnered with Aberdeen Central Library for the first edition of National Library Live in November.

Perth 23 January to 26 April 2026

In January 2026, Mary Queen of Scots' last letter, written the night before her execution in February 1587, left the National Library for the first time in a generation. It was on display for three months in the heart of Perth Museum, above the Stone of Destiny.

Nearby, at AK Bell Library, other items from the National Library’s collections were on display to complement the letter in an exhibition entitled 'The Legacy of Mary, Queen of Scots'. This display featured Robert Burns' poem 'Lament of Mary, Queen of Scots, On the Approach of Spring' written in Burns' own hand, and early manuscripts from Liz Lochhead's iconic play 'Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off'.

We collaborated with Culture Perth and Kinross on a series of complementary events and activities and AK Bell Library was the next stop for National Library Live on Saturday 7 March 2026.

The National Library of Scotland’s OUTWITH programme has been kindly supported by The Gannochy Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, the NLS Foundation, P F Charitable Trust, Stichting Teuntje Anna (TA Fund), The Ettrick Trust, William Grant Foundation, Murdoch Forrest Charitable Trust, The Scottish Book Trust and by supporters of the National Library’s Centenary Appeal. The Perth component of OUTWITH was also generously supported by the Evelyn Ferris Mudie Trust and Perth and Kinross Council.

Centenary appeal

Find out about how we're celebrating our history and how we can ensure the National Library of Scotland continues to thrive for the next 100 years.

Learn about our Centenary appeal