National Museums Scotland Library Services

We have produced a current Library Services leaflet, detailing the services and collections that are available in the Research Library at the National Museum of Scotland and the library housed in the National War Museum Scotland based at Edinburgh Castle.

We are very keen that your members are aware of the resources we have to offer and would ask that you encourage them to come and use the service. The library is happy to have group visits by arrangement.

The archaeology collection is of national importance and is often considered to be among the finest in Scotland, with material on North West Europe that is unavailable elsewhere. It aims to be comprehensive in its Scottish coverage, extensive in its British coverage, and is especially significant in its breadth, including excavation reports and material on Egyptology

We hold a wide range of journals from all areas of Britain and Europe, many from local, regional and national history/archaeological societies.

Scottish history and archaeology items in our special collections include notes, sketches and journals, often relating to objects in the museum collection; and the archives of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

The Research Library now holds the finding lists of the Scottish Life Archive which includes original photographs, news clippings and references illustrating Scotland’s material culture and social history.

The Research Library is in the process of moving to an appointments based system for Museum visitors wishing to access library resources. Appointments will now be needed by visitors to view all material that appears on the library catalogue.

Appointments are now available at the following times each week:

Tuesdays 10:00 - 12:00
Wednesdays 14:00 - 16:00
Thursdays 10:00 - 12:00

Appointments can be booked and staff support is available by contacting the Library and Archives team by email: library@nms.ac.uk(link sends e-mail) or by telephone: 0131 247 4137 (voicemail).