The Library has also achieved other targets in 2024,inclduing having a third of the collections in digital format by the start of this year.
This enables people to access a large swath of the collections from anywhere in the world.
National Librarian Amina Shah says the Library was reaching a greater audience than ever before.
Staff dressed up in Renaissance clothing for one event (Image: NLS) She said: “Not long before I was appointed in this job, the Library launched a strategy called ‘Reaching People’, named after its primary goal of broadening our audiences.
“We embarked on a major project to understand those we were reaching and those we were not reaching. This, coupled with the phenomenal hard work of my colleagues carrying out outreach activities, has boosted visits to our exhibitions and events.
“What we’re finding out, particularly post-Covid, is that people are hugely invested in libraries. They care about them and they care about places they can go to meet other people and to engage with the collections. Covid brought home even more to people how important it is to see ‘the real thing’, and to have real experiences. And I think that’s why we’ve seen this uptake in general.”
On now at the National Library at George IV Bridge, Edinburgh:
Tusitala: Pacific Perspectives on Robert Louis Stevenson – until 10 May 2025
Renaissance: Scotland and Europe 1480 to 1630 – until 21 April 2025
Treasures of the National Library of Scotland – a permanent exhibition with new items on display on a regular basis
The Library will consult on its next strategy at the end of January, the same day it will announce its centenary programme. Amina Shah says the next strategy will build upon the foundational work of ‘Reaching People’ such as the audience programme and environmental work.
Ms Shah said: “We have at least 45,000 members across the country, from the Highlands and Islands to the Borders, plus more members throughout the UK and further afield.
“Not all of them are able to get to our reading rooms, so providing access via our website is crucial in enabling the people of Scotland to benefit from access to their national collections, and for sharing Scotland’s stories with the world.
“Our revamped website, due for launch in summer next year will also help to bring the collections to life.”
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She added: “We also had a target to reduce our hidden collections. And what I mean by ‘hidden collections’ is, we’ve got them, they’re in the library, but we’ve not managed to catalogue them so people are unable to find out what’s there, or what’s available.
“We were going to reduce that by 75 percent by 2025. We have now reduced it by 78.5 percent, and we’re just at the end of 2024. So those are massive pieces of work which make a real difference.”
Ms Shah said that while the post-pandemic conditions continue to be challenging, the National Library will do everything it can to mark its 100th birthday throughout 2025 and also celebrate libraries more broadly.
“You’re only 100 once. And while we have so much to celebrate as a national library, we don’t work alone. Libraries in Scotland are part of a network and we want to take the opportunity to celebrate all kinds of libraries and the impact they have on people’s lives.
“During a cost-of-living crisis when there are huge pressures and problems for people, there’s an opportunity to remember what it is to share books and knowledge and information. The purpose of libraries at their very heart was always around sharing things and sharing resources in a community.
“That seems to be very much the spirit that people are returning to which is heartwarming and hopeful.”