National Library of Scotland to make millions of items available online

Centuries of knowledge and learning are to be made available online under major plans to turn Scotland's premier library into a 'global digital destination'. Read all the latest history, heritage and archaeology news and opinion in the latest issue of History Scotland, available in print and digital editions.

The National Library of Scotland plans to put a third of its renowned collection of 24 million items online in the next 10 years in one of the biggest programmes of its kind anywhere in Europe.

It will be a gateway to information on Scottish culture and history that will allow millions of people to view unique documents including manuscripts of major Scottish writers such as Robert Burns and Walter Scott, official reports on many subjects, thousands of films on life in Scotland, as well as memorabilia from last year's referendum on Scottish independence, among many others.

AN INFORMATION REVOLUTION

Speaking of the strategy, the Library's National Librarian, Dr John Scally, said: 'The internet has created a revolution in how people expect to be able to access information. We want people to be able to connect to our collections from wherever they are, rather than having to consult material in the Library as has been the case for most of our existence. We are committed to removing as many barriers as possible that prevent people accessing our collections and services.'

Our role is to be the guardian of the published and recorded memory of Scotland for current and future generations. Our aim is to make the knowledge held within our collections as widely available as possible.

'At no time in our history has it been easier to share the story of Scotland with a global audience. At no time has it been as possible to reach out beyond our buildings to provide services to people living in every part of Scotland. This new strategy seeks to harness technological developments to achieve the central aim of the National Library - to provide access to knowledge that is inspiring, accessible and relevant to anyone, whether living in or interested in Scotland.'

The Library, which has seen traffic to its website double in the past five years to more than three million visits annually, already has a strong online presence, with a number of iconic items already digitised, including the last letter of Mary Queen of Scots, the order for the Massacre of Glencoe and the first atlas of Scotland.

To find out more about the National Library of Scotland and its collections, visit the website.



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