National Library of Scotland
@natlibscot.bsky.social
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Scotland’s living memory. If you can think of it, we probably have it.
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2025 marks 100 years since the National Library of Scotland was established by an Act of Parliament 🎂

Join our centenary champions, Val McDermid and Damian Barr, as they talk about the significance of libraries, and the importance of collections like ours 📚
natlibscot.bsky.social
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Christopher Smith as the new Chair of the National Library of Scotland Board.

Learn more about the appointment > media.nls.uk/news/new-cha...
 Professor Christopher Smith smiles towards the camera. Photograph taken from chest up.
natlibscot.bsky.social
And later...
🤔 2pm: No such thing as a silly question! A look at our enquiry process & eResources.
📦 3pm: Archive Safari with local experts.

Plus drop-in activities and family fun all day! The day is free, with activities for all ages.
natlibscot.bsky.social
The lineup includes:
🗺️ 11am: Putting Aberdeen on the map - a 400-year cartographic journey.
🪙 12pm: A tour of the Library's greatest Treasures.
🎥 1pm: The Silver City on screen - Aberdeen from the Moving Image Archive.
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We're heading to Aberdeen! 🗺️🎞️

National Library Live, on 8 November, is a free day of talks, stories & activities. Discover maps, film, treasures & more with us and Aberdeen City Libraries.

#NationalLibraryLive #Aberdeen #NLS100
A collage of square cutouts from maps of Scotland. A Library-themed 'Snakes and Ladders' game, with two giant dice on top. A bunch of cards for a Library 'size matching' game, laid out on a table with a measuring tape.
natlibscot.bsky.social
This #MapMonday, explore historic maps of #Ireland!

We've added new georeferenced map layers to our Maps Images Website. View first and second edition one-inch to the mile Ordnance Survey of Ireland maps in our georeferenced and side-by-side viewers 🗺️

Explore the maps > maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/...
side by side view of first and second edition ordnance survey maps for Waterford from National Library of Scotland website
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A place for self-discovery, dancing, school-rule-breaking, romantic meet-cutes (oh, and *the* hot location for finding out the secrets of the universe). Yes, it’s the library in pop culture!

Writer and editor Katie Goh explains everything from Buffy to Matilda in our latest long-read.
A graphic-style illustration of Matilda walking home with a pull-trolley full of books. A graphic-style illustration of Breakfast at Tiffany's scene in the library. A graphic-style illustration of the Scooby Gang in the library in 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'. A graphic-style depiction of the Breakfast Club sitting on the bannister in their library.
natlibscot.bsky.social
We have improved our links with the Allmaps project, so that any of our maps can be freely, collaboratively georeferenced and then brought back into our Georeferenced Maps viewer 🗺️

Learn more > maps.nls.uk/view/help/

#Georeference #MapMonday #Maps
natlibscot.bsky.social
Are you feeling crafty? Drop by our George IV Bridge building 2 - 4pm today for autumn crafts for all ages. Make a pinecone bird feeder, try some autumn leaf craft or relax with mindful colouring.
leaf made with autumn leaves pine cone covered with seeds to make a bird feeder
natlibscot.bsky.social
📍 George IV Bridge Building
🗓️ Sunday, 28 September
See our main building, including our Reading Rooms.

No booking required. Just drop in. Find out more on our website > www.nls.uk/whats-on/?t=...
What's on filtered by what | National Library of Scotland
Find out about our events and exhibitions in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and online.
www.nls.uk
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Explore the National Library of Scotland for Doors Open Days 🔎

This September, we're taking part in Doors Open Days. It's your chance for a free, behind-the-scenes look at our buildings.

📍 Causewayside Building
🗓️ Saturday, 27 September
Go behind the scenes! Try out our library games and activities
A library themed snakes and ladder games on a table. The National Library of Scotland's Causewayside Building.
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People can access a wide range of advice and resources on a range of conditions, whether they themselves are affected or they want to know more to support a friend or family member.
natlibscot.bsky.social
Volunteers offer practical, emotional and financial support and signposting at libraries the length and breadth of Scotland, from Arbroath to Wishaw.
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How can libraries be places of support for everyone in a community? 🫂

Supporting the health and wellbeing of the local community is a key role of our public libraries. A hugely popular and valued information service is the one offered by Macmillan Cancer Support.
A Macmillan volunteer sits with a member of the public, looking at a book together.
natlibscot.bsky.social
John Forbes' 'Songs and Fancies', published in Aberdeen in 1682, captured some of the most beloved songs from Renaissance Scotland in print for the first time.

This book and an accompanying events programme will be in Aberdeen from 13 September 2025 to 4 January 2026.
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We're coming to Aberdeen! 🥳

Our OUTWITH programme kicks off this Saturday by bringing our earliest publication of Scottish secular music to Aberdeen Art Gallery (whose Cowdray Hall concert venue is also having a big birthday this year).
Songs and Fancies lies open in a display case, with a person kneeling down to look at it closely. The photograph is taken close up, with the book in the foreground.
Reposted by National Library of Scotland
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Bidh an t-oileanach PhD againn Ceit Langhorne a' bruidhinn aig an Leabharlann Nàiseanta a-màireach.

Our PhD student Ceit Langhorne is speaking at @natlibscot.bsky.social tomorrow.

'Sgeulachdan Ghaisgeil: Scottish Gaelic heroic stories in the Scottish landscape'.

https://nls.pulse.ly/qdusiaygei
Sgeulachdan Ghaisgeil: Scottish Gaelic heroic stories in the Scottish landscape | National Library of Scotland
Learn about the complex history of heroic characters through the Scottish landscape in this talk by PhD researcher Ceit Langhorne.
nls.pulse.ly
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The sessions aim to create inclusive, stimulating environments for children and families, explore the use of some outdoor venues for storytelling, and foster reading, play and community well-being.
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Where do you go to listen to stories? 🗣️

Bookbug and storytelling sessions have been going on the road in the Borders to help reach more children and build partnerships with local organisations.
A graphic promoting the National Library of Scotland's 'Love Libraries' campaign, with the slogan 'Find your next chapter' in the middle of the image, with graphic depictions of families reading, exploring, and playing in a library setting surrounding the text.
natlibscot.bsky.social
This #MapMonday can we tempt you with #MoreMaps?
We've just added early maps of Scotland and Great Britain, as well as town and county plans. These maps are from our Charlotte Smith collection, acquired by the Library in 2017. maps.nls.uk/additions/#184
Map of Great Britain by Abraham Ortelius. 1646