Spring has arrived! The flowers bud, newborn animals lay in the fields; and the sky transforms from the dark grey snows of winter, to the dull grey constant rain that all other seasons in the British Isles consist of.

Our latest exhibition on Capital Collections is a unique sketchbook of watercolour ‘Views in Norway’ dating from 1864 belonging to the Scottish author, R. M. Ballantyne.

Our ever-expanding online image library, Capital Collections, has had a bit of a makeover recently. As well as a timeline and map there’s a zoom feature which is great for viewing pictures in detail. Click on the images below to get the full benefit of a close-up view.
First, a crowded Portobello beach in 1900, and not a bathing costume in sight. In fact the number of jackets and heavy coats on show suggest it might not have been the warmest of days.

Stereotypes abound in our latest Capital Collection exhibition, London Types, a set of printed woodcut prints by the renowned painter and printer William Nicholson, wit

There’s been a lot of excitement surrounding the discovery of a rare Japanese eighteenth century handscroll painting among our collections.

We’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of an Edinburgh cultural institution with a specially curated exhibition.
January 2nd 1963 saw the birth of a Theatre Club housed in an abandoned brothel in the Lawnmarket. From inauspicious beginnings, the Traverse Theatre has grown in scale and stature over the years to a global reputation for producing innovative, must-see Theatre.

John Clerk of Eldin was a remarkable man, best known in his day as a naval writer and tactician, he was also friend to the geologist, James Hutton and architect Robert Adam. Today though, it is Clerk the amateur artist, who is more widely recognised. Currently on show at the City Art Centre is an exhibition dedicated to his etchings of Scottish Scenes, from his earliest self-taught efforts to later finely executed works.

A wee while ago we blogged a request for help to locate the artist of a collection of fantastic photographs depicting life in 1950s Greenside.  We’re delighted to say that with a little help from friends on Facebook, we’ve made contact with the photographer’s family who have kindly allowed us to share and publish the pictures online.

Taken from the library’s metaphorical attic and now Capital Collections newest exhibition is this wonderful album of photographs from the 19th century photographer and publisher, James Valentine.

A top-notch lineup of local and family history professionals are joining us for Central Library’s Local and Family History Day on Saturday 17th November.