Major New Exhibition Celebrates the Importance of Libraries

The National Library of Scotland centenary celebrations continue with the opening today of a new exhibition celebrating all kinds of libraries and the books that shape us.

The exhibition is named after Dear Library, the poem by former Makar Jackie Kay whose literary archive was acquired by the library last year. Its exhibition spaces at George IV Bridge in Edinburgh have been transformed into a reading room, filled with recommendations from members of the public and some of Scotland’s famous personalities.

“Libraries change lives," said National Librarian Amina Shah. "They empower individuals and the communities they belong to. The library sector has a proud shared history of working together to make sure everyone can benefit from access to information, stories, culture and knowledge, from school libraries to universities, mobile libraries to specialised archives, many of whom have contributed to this exhibition.”

Aside from a handful of items, the library has dispensed with displaying items in glass cases for this exhibition. Instead, people are encouraged to browse bookshelves and examine any item that piques their interest. Books include a sample of the many titles suggested to the library through a public call out seeking the books that shaped people’s lives. Titles have also been selected by Alan Cumming, Gemma Cairney, Sir Ian Rankin, Lauren Mayberry and Pat Nevin, as well as the library’s Centenary Champions Damian Barr and Val McDermid.

Beyond the books, the exhibition also features librarians and libraries in popular culture, protest banners and badges reflecting libraries under threat, and vintage film footage bringing past libraries to life. 

Specialist libraries from across the country have loaned items to the exhibition including Glasgow Women’s Library, The Nature Library, Making Public’s Press (formerly Skye Zine Library), Innerpeffray Library and the Library of Mistakes. These items – which include a bird's nest as well as rare books from Scotland’s first free public lending library – demonstrate the different kinds of items libraries collect, including the completely unexpected.

“The National Library has been a cornerstone of our nation’s cultural life for generations," said Culture Secretary Angus Robertson. "This exhibition is a direct reflection of the impact libraries have had, bringing together just some of the books and objects that have helped to shape our country and the people who live here."

Dear Library runs through April 2026.