LOADS happening in libraries recently – so let’s have a quick round-up.
First, thanks to all you big-hearted readers who helped us raise lots of money for Comic Relief and Marie Curie. Central Library hosted a Red Nose Day Readathon with staff taking turns to read from the funniest novel ever – as voted by our readers…

At the Edinburgh & Scottish Library we’re gearing up for the annual influx of enquiries from Burns Supper hosts, attendees and speakers.
The library is home to an impressive collection of material on the life and times of our most celebrated poet. From biographies, poems and songs, to cartoons and rhymes for wee folk, we’ve got all the information you need to make your Burns supper a roaring success. Here’s a selection of what’s on offer.

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.

Before the glass facade of the multiplex cinema, the metal giraffes and the car boot sales, the Greenside area of Edinburgh was home to a population of 571 people living in 256 houses. Lying in the shadow of Calton Hill, the neighbourhood’s narrow streets and alleyways saw little sunshine. The area suffered from poor ventilation, over-crowding and poor sanitation. With the backing of the City’s Medical Officer of Health and the Chief Sanitory Inspector, Greenside was a priority area on the council’s programme of slum clearances.

“Sport” is the theme of this week’s Scottish Local History Week so we’ve been looking through our collection of programmes with an Edinburgh connection.
Here’s the programme from the 1956 Scottish Cup Final, a game the Jam Tarts won 3-1 to lift the cup for the first time in fifty years.

As well as being National Libraries Day, Saturday also sees the start of this year’s RBS Six Nations rugby championship. Scotland’s first match sees Murrayfield play host to a visit from the ‘auld enemy’, who ran out victors when the sides last met at the 2011 World Cup.
Central Library’s Edinburgh and Scottish Collection is home to books, photographs and programmes which document the history of international rugby’s oldest fixture. Some of these items make up part of a display which is currently on show in the library.