Edinburgh Central Library

Something exciting is coming to Central Childrens Library this summer... TUNE in soon for more details 🎶
The Reading Agency

Have you spotted this incredible display on our staircase yet? 🖼️✨

The Living Heritage exhibition by Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland is only on display on our Main Staircase for a few more days (closes Saturday, 30th May) and we hope you grab a chance to pop in and take a look!

Handcrafted by children aged 8-11 from the First Bulgarian School Nadejda Stancioff - Lady Muir in Edinburgh, these extraordinary masks bring a centuries-old Bulgarian tradition to life. Every year, the Kukeri don masks, dress in furs and dance through the night to chase away evil spirits and welcome spring. The masks on display were worn on stage in the show ‘When Will Spring Arrive?’ by Dr Yana Alexandrova on 22 March 2025 as part of the school’s 10th anniversary celebration.

The display also features a remarkable mask from Declining Solo, the award-winning show by Scottish-Bulgarian theatre company Two Destination Language - previously exhibited at the V&A Museum London, and showing here in Scotland for the very first time.

Find out more at tdfs.org 🔗

***Exploring Central Library with Children's Art Club***

This month our group of young artists and their families set out on a tour of discovery around all of Central Library with the help of an "I Spy" architectural and design-spotting activity.

Then, back in our usual room, they made badges and collaged and drew pictures of the favourite spaces in and impressions of Central Library. Their pictures include the dome of the Reference Library, pop-out books and features from the Children's Library and colourful shapes and textures from around the building.

Look out for details of June's Children's Art Club here and on Ticket Source very soon. The session on Saturday 13th June will be the last Children's Art Club meeting until the new school year but do keep an eye out for summer-holiday artist-led workshops at Central Library.

Change to venue: Coming up on Thursday evening is this fantastic event as part of Benengeli 2026: The International Week of Spanish Literature

Please note that this event is taking place at the Playfair Library on South Bridge and NOT Central Library as previously advertised

Some tickets are still available here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/benengeli-2026-a-conversation-about-libraries-in-literature-tickets-1984606852520

Fabulous event taking place tomorrow at Ratho Library!

EIBF Paper Trails x Ratho Library: Elle McNicoll – Caring About The Pa at Ratho library Tickets are now available for EIBF Paper Trails x Ratho Library: Elle McNicoll – Caring About The Pa at Ratho library, Ratho on Sat 23 May 2026 at 11:00AM. Click the link for further information and to secure your tickets now!

4 DAYS TO GO:
🎥Join us on TUESDAY 26th May @ 2pm for the next instalment of Black Cat Cinema. The film on this date will be a dark romantic drama, directed by William Wyler and based on a novella by Henry James. It won four Oscars, including Best Actress. GET YOUR FREE TICKETS HERE TODAY https://www.ticketsource.com/whats-on/edinburgh/george-washington-browne-room-edinburgh-central-library/black-cat-cinema-presents-films-at-central-library/2026-05-26/14:00/t-lddznzx 🎬🎞🍿🎟

Join us tomorrow, 22nd May at 10.30am, for a special Bookbug session to celebrate Bookbug Week. There will be all your favourite songs and rhymes plus some extra special activities going on in the Childrens Library. We can't wait to see you there!

🎼Please join us at Music on the Mezzanine THIS SATURDAY 23rd of May @ 1pm to hear the wonderful Moonlighting Flutes
🎵🪈🎶🪈🎵🪈🎶🪈🎵

Ticketsource says it is going to be another busy Saturday but please come along anyway. Look forward to seeing you there!

https://www.ticketsource.com/edinburgh-central-library/t-zozdzvg

🎺🎺🎺🎺Calling all artists seeking some studio space!🎺🎺🎺🎺

“Absolutely Fantastic!”
“This is a wonderful space to work and be and I will be coming more often…”
“This is an amazing facility, I can work on my portfolio in peace here.”

Did you know that Edinburgh Central Libraries have an Art & Design Library Art Studio?!

Please do spread the word….

To find out more and to book, please contact the Art and Design Library by emailing [email protected] or phone 0131 242 8040.

Please also see our blog: https://talesofonecity.wordpress.com/2025/11/11/new-art-studio-space-at-central-library/

May 11th – 17th this year marks Mental Health Awareness Day - and in celebration of the capacity of art to promote change, and bring about wonder and wellbeing we’ve put together some books for inspiration…

Books and pictures:

- Quentin Blake, images for the South Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Centre. “Beyond the Page”, Quentin Blake. Tate Publishing; London, 2012

- “Meet Barbara Hepworth”, Laura Carlin. Tate Publishing; London, 2015

- “Butterflies”, Odilon Redon, c. 1910

- “Ways of Seeing”, John Berger. BBC and Penguin Books Ltd.; London, 1972

- “The Artist’s Way”, Julia Cameron. Souvenir Press; London, 2020

- “The Natural Way to Draw”, Kimon Nicolaïdes. André Deutsch; London, 1972