The National Library of Scotland/Leabharlann Nàiseanta na h-Alba (NLS) is Scotland’s largest reference library and is a major European research library. We are one of the world’s leading centres for the study of Scotland and the Scots – an information treasure trove for Scotland’s knowledge, history and culture. The Library’s collections are of world-class importance, and comprise digital material, rare books, manuscripts, maps, music, official publications, business information, science and technology, as well as extensive modern and foreign collections. The Library holds more than 24 million items including seven million manuscripts, 700 years of maps, 400,000 music items, 32,000 films and 15 million printed items. Every week it collects c.5,000 new items, around 80% of which are received free of charge in terms of Legal Deposit legislation.
Our website gives free access to a range of digitised resources and images , as well as to a large collection of licensed digital resources, such as the Times Digital Archive, Early English Books online, and many more.
Visitors are welcome to our reading rooms to use our collections, and our catalogue can be viewed in advance on the website.
