Scottish Poetry Library facts for kids
The Scottish Poetry Library is a special place in Edinburgh, Scotland. It's like a public library, but it focuses on poems and stories written by Scottish authors. You can find works in English, Scots, and Scottish Gaelic here. It's a non-profit organization, which means it helps people rather than making money.
The library is a great spot to discover new poems or enjoy old favorites. It has many books, small booklets, and audio recordings. You can borrow items if you live in the UK, or just visit to read and relax. In 2024, the library celebrated its 40th birthday!
Discovering the Library's Story
The Scottish Poetry Library was started in 1984. A poet named Tessa Ransford had the idea to create this unique library. Tom Hubbard was the very first librarian who helped set it up.
Today, the library is led by its Director, Asif Khan. He started in June 2016. A team of librarians and other experts help him. They manage the collections, plan special projects, and organize learning events. They also help writers and performers share their talents.
The library is a company that works for good causes. It gets support from Creative Scotland. This helps the library encourage more people to read and write. They also run creative writing classes for different groups, schools, and other libraries.
The Library Building: A Special Design
Since 1999, the Scottish Poetry Library has been located at 5 Crichton's Close. This is a small street just off the Canongate in Edinburgh's historic Old Town. The building itself is quite special.
It was designed by Malcolm Fraser Architects. The design was so good that it was even considered for "Building of the Year" in 2000. People have called the building "a poem in glass and stone." It was also listed as one of the 100 best modern Scottish buildings in 2005.
