Scottish Poetry Library

Scottish Poetry Library, Crichton's Close, Edinburgh

The Scottish Poetry Library was founded in 1984[1] by poet Tessa Ransford (1938–2015). It originally had two staff members, including Scottish poet, Tom Hubbard, and 300 books, but has since expanded to some 30,000 items of Scottish and international poetry.[1] The library contains material in Scotland's three indigenous languages: Scottish Gaelic, Lowland Scots, and English.

The library is involved in Scotland's Virtual reference scheme, Ask Scotland, where users can "Ask an Expert" online. Reference questions posed via the Ask Scotland website can be referred to a member of staff at the Scottish Poetry Library. This service has been available since 2011.[2]

The building

Since 1999, the library has been based in Crichton's Close, just off the Canongate in Edinburgh's Old Town. The library building was designed by Malcolm Fraser Architects, and was shortlisted for Channel 4's "Building of the Year" in 2000.[3] It has been described as "a poem in glass and stone",[4] and was included in Prospect magazine's list of the 100 best modern Scottish buildings..

2015 Refurbishment

In 2015, the library underwent a £500,000 refurbishment[5] and was closed to the public for 6 months. The library was reopened on 28 October by Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop and National Poet of Scotland Liz Lochhead. The changes mean the library now has more space for books as well as a soundproofed space to allow teaching and workshops to take place alongside study.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "The Scottish Poetry Library". Scottish Arts Council. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
  2. ↑ Ask Scotland, askscotland.org.uk; accessed 3 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh". edinburgharchitecture.co.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  4. ↑ "Scottish Poetry Library". Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature website. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
  5. ↑ "Scottish Poetry Library reopens after £500,000 revamp". BBC News. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  6. ↑ "Scottish Poetry Library reopens after major refurb". www.thenational.scot. Retrieved 2016-02-26.

Coordinates: 55°57′05″N 3°10′41″W / 55.9514°N 3.1781°W / 55.9514; -3.1781

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