Scotland has loved its libraries for generations, and you can see it everywhere. From the impressive National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh to small, cosy libraries in village halls and on distant islands, these places are much more than just places to store books.
They serve as community centers, quiet places for research, and warm, welcoming spots open to all.
Libraries today offer much more than books. You can use free Wi-Fi, borrow items online, join family activities, take language classes, or explore local history collections. Whether you want to research your family tree, find a quiet study spot, or pick up a great novel, there is something for everyone.
There are also some real treasures, such as Innerpeffray Library in Perthshire, which was Scotland’s first free-lending library and dates back to the 1600s. Thanks to mobile libraries and online services, even people in the most remote parts of the country can stay connected to Scotland’s love of learning.
Historic Libraries
- National Library of Scotland – George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EW
Located in central Edinburgh, this is Scotland’s largest library and legal deposit library, meaning it holds copies of every publication in the UK. It offers extensive collections, including rare manuscripts, maps, and digital archives. NLS hosts exhibitions, lectures, and workshops on Scotland’s history and culture.
- The Advocates Library – Edinburgh – The library of the Faculty of Advocates.
- Royal College of Physicians Library – the oldest and largest medical library in Scotland.
- Glasgow Women’s Library
- Mitchell Library – Glasgow
- Innerpeffray Library – Crieff, Perthshire – Scotland’s first free Public Lending Library
Local Authority Libraries
- Aberdeenshire Libraries
- Angus Libraries
- Dumfries & Galloway Libraries
- Edinburgh Libraries
- Glasgow Libraries
- Highlands Libraries
Scottish University Libraries
- University of Aberdeen Library
- Abertay University Dundee
- Sir Alex Ferguson Library – Glasgow Caledonian University
- University of Dundee
- University of Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Napier University
- University of Glasgow
- Heriot-Watt University
- Queen Margaret University
- RGU Library – Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen
- University of Andrews
- Andersonian Library – University of Strathclyde
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