About Us
The Central Library was opened in 1890 and has since then been building collections some of which are featured on this website.
Today these collections are managed separately by Central Library Departments. Material on this website is from the Edinburgh Room, the Scottish and Fine Art Libraries.
The creation of this website is supported by funding from the Scottish Executive through the Cities Growth Fund.
Edinburgh Room
The Edinburgh Room holds the most comprehensive collection of published material on Edinburgh past and present.
The department, opened in 1932 was the first local studies department in the country; it remains a unique resource chronicling the history, life and culture of Edinburgh.
Its collection includes over 100,000 books, maps, prints, photographs, slides, old parish registers, census returns and newspaper cuttings relating to the history, topography and social life of the City of Edinburgh.
The collection is rich in examples of early photography including calotypes and prints by David Octavius Hill, Robert Adamson and Thomas Keith. In addition the collection features original work by artists such as James Skene and Walter Geikie.
Contact the Edinburgh Room
By e-mail: edinburgh.room@edinburgh.gov.uk
By phone: 0131 242 8030
By post: Edinburgh Room, Central Library, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EG
Scottish Library
The Scottish Library has a wide range of information about every aspect of Scotland including history, literature and politics. Resources include books, maps, prints, photographs, journals, parish registers and census information.
The collections record Scotland’s changing rural and urban landscapes in illustration and photograph. Highlights include the Highland Life Collection of photographs and drawings by Joseph Farrington.
Contact the Scottish Library
By e-mail central.scottish.library@edinburgh.gov.uk
By phone: 0131 242 8070
By post: Scottish Library, Central Library, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EG
Fine Art Library
The Fine Art Library contains the most extensive public collection of printed material on art and design in Scotland. Subjects covered include art history, architecture and town planning, sculpture, graphics, painting, prints and printmaking, industrial and folk art, the decorative arts and photography.
Of the many Special Collections available in the Fine Art Library a highlight is the Japanese material collected by Dr. Henry Dyer.
Contact the Fine Art Library
By e-mail: central.fineart.library@edinburgh.gov.uk
By Phone: 0131 242 8040
By post: Fine Art Library, Central Library, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EG
