Life With the National Library of Scotland: ‘I have conserved incredible material from Jane Austen to Charles Darwin’

Conservator Claire Hutchison on having the patience to handle delicate archive material, working on a first edition of Darwin’s The Origin of Species, and safeguarding national collections.   When I was a kid, I was very much into painting and drawing, but I didn’t know about conservation until I was at high school. I was lucky enough…

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William Shakespeare’s first folio to go on display

A 400-year-old collection of some of William Shakespeare’s first works including Macbeth is to go on display. The National Library in Edinburgh will display the works as part of the Treasures of the National Library of Scotland exhibition at George IV Bridge. Originally published seven years after Shakespeare’s death in 1616, the folio includes 36 plays –…

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National Library of Scotland launches Gaelic language exhibition

The National Library of Scotland (NLS) has launched its first ever Gaelic language exhibition. The exhibition invites visitors to hear and learn about folk-tales told for centuries in the Gaelic-speaking areas of Scotland, and how they have been preserved for current and future generations. The interactive exhibition is focused around the works of Gaelic folklorist…

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Celebrating 100 years of broadcasting in Scotland

THE National Library of Scotland is marking 100 years of broadcasting in Scotland. Scotland’s first radio transmission was made from the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow on 24 January 1923 – two months before the BBC’s initial wireless broadcast. The national library will hold its “Festival of Broadcasting” between 28 March and 1 April at the…

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Tilda Swinton gets film archive award

NAIRN’S favourite actress, Tilda Swinton, has received the International Federation of Film Archives’ (FIAF’s) annual award. The actress – famous for starring in films including Michael Clayton, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and Marvel’s Doctor Strange – was presented with the prize last night at the National Library of…

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Doric scriever starts residency

DORIC writer Shane Strachan has been named as the next Scots scriever by the National Library of Scotland. The role involves promoting the Scots language by carrying out research at the library and producing original work. Strachan said: “I’m fair trickit tae be this year’s Scots scriever, especially gettin tae promote the Doric o my…

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Why do authors use pen names?

THE reasons why writers use pen names is the theme for a new exhibition at the National Library of Scotland. “Pen Names” opens at the library on George IV Bridge in Edinburgh on Friday. The exhibition draws on material from the library’s archive to cover a range of writers using pseudonyms from the 1800s to…

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Neu Treasures at the National Library of Scotland

The National Library of Scotland and Neu! Reekie! have commissioned 12 artists to respond to 12 collection items which will be displayed in the new Treasures exhibition space which habe opened to the public. Treasures of the National Library of Scotland is a new permanent thematic display, featuring objects from the extensive collection at the…

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Win a chance to discover Edinburgh’s literary heritage

A new competition has been launched offering a pair of literature lovers a once-in-a-lifetime prize – the chance to explore Edinburgh’s literary heritage accompanied by one of the city’s most famous writers, multiple award-winning author Ian Rankin OBE. The competition prize package also includes return travel to Edinburgh, two nights’ accommodation at YOTEL Edinburgh, a…

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