Scottish Poetry Library
The Scottish Poetry Library is the place for poetry in Scotland, for the regular reader, the serious student or the casual browser.
Since its foundation in 1984 it has amassed a remarkable collection of written works, as well as tapes and videos. The emphasis is on contemporary poetry written in Scotland, in Scots, Gaelic and English, but historic Scottish poetry and contemporary works from almost every part of the world feature too.
All its resources, advice and information are readily accessible, free of charge. They also have collections for the visually impaired.
The Scottish Poetry Library has been described as 'a poem in glass and stone'. The building has won several awards and was shortlisted for Channel 4's Building of the Year in 2000. The airy, welcoming space is a perfect environment for browsing or for studying in. SPL is frequently open in the evenings for special poetry events and readings: you can search for these in our What's On section, or visit the SPL website.
The Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton's Close, Canongate, Edinburgh
http://www.spl.org.uk/
Education
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The SPL runs an active education programme for Scottish schools. They support poets working in schools and other learning environments. They also support teachers, school librarians and other educators who know that poems engage the creative imagination and provide an ideal medium through which to explore and express ideas in subjects across the Curriculum. And they hope to inspire young readers and writers of poetry. |
International Projects
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The Scottish Poetry Library aims to place Scottish poetry in an international context. They initiate a range of projects to encourage connections between poets, and to expand the Library's international poetry and literature resources. A list of past and future projects can be found on the SPL website. |
Programmes
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The SPL maintains an active list of poetry readings, workshops, poetry book groups and other events run by the Scottish Poetry Library, both in Edinburgh and its outreach collections in Scotland. Check out upcoming poetry events, including those conducted by the SPL, in our What's On section. You can also visit the SPL website directly for a list of their upcoming events. |
The Edwin Morgan Archive
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In 2007 the Scottish Poetry Library acquired an extensive archive of the published works of Edwin Morgan. This Heritage Lottery Fund project funded preservation and cataloguing of the items, the building of a dedicated archive area in the Library, development of resources for teachers, readers and writers, and a national campaign to find Scotland's favourite poem by its first National Poet. |