National Library of Scotland (Edinburgh)
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National Library of Scotland – A vast collection of books and documents
Located at George IV Bridge in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town, the National Library of Scotland is the largest library north of the border. It is a treasure trove of information, housing an amazing 14 million printed items including every book published in the country, manuscripts, maps, documents and newspapers. The National Library of Scotland can best be described as a comprehensive repository for Scotland's knowledge, history and culture. It makes for an interesting alternative to the usual sights and attractions of short breaks in Edinburgh, and whatever your specialist interest, there is a wealth of education and fun to be had.
National Library of Scotland – Explore your own personal family history
It is a fascinating place, with mountains of information covering every conceivable subject. The most popular is the family history centre which is a big hit especially with overseas visitors from North America. For beginners there are genealogy workshops, and researching a family tree often turns into a joyful obsession for many visitors. For some people it can easily take up the lion’s share of cheap city breaks in Edinburgh. There are numerous other specialist sections such as a historic map room, a massive poster collection, the Scottish screen archive, foreign publications and a vast Scottish music collection.
National Library of Scotland – Priceless manuscripts that have changed the course of history
Its scope is global, but there is nowhere better for visitors to get a real flavour of Scottish life. There are workshops on Scottish culture and history, art and film exhibitions and rare treasures such as the last letter written by Mary Queen of Scots along with priceless manuscripts by Charles Darwin and William Shakespeare. Edinburgh weekend breaks here are not just for scholars and bookworms. You will find a large collection of rare children’s books and a copy of virtually every comic book ever printed in the United Kingdom – something that will keep the kids more than satisfied.
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