We're not the only ones that want you to get into books, and there are groups out there that can match your particular interest or offer specialist advice.  This section gives an overview of what's on offer in Edinburgh: to scroll through the alphabetical list, visit our Links page.

Writers and readers alike are catered for by the Scottish Book Trust, our national agency for promoting books which also houses BRAW, the Books, Reading and Writing network for children's books.

If publishing is where your interest lies, then you should know that Publishing Scotland, previously known as the Scottish Publishers Association, offers training courses, mailing services and an online description of each of the Scottish publishers that are members.  Napier University also runs courses in the subject.

There's a growing interest in storytelling in Scotland - Edinburgh is lucky enough to house the Scottish Storytelling Centre, which runs an annual Festival, a storytelling club that's always looking for new members and an extensive programe of events for those who prefer not to join in.

The plentiful array of libraries in Edinburgh offer so much more than just borrowing books: you can visit our libraries section to find out about many of the 140 information providers in the city.  Some of the must-visit libraries include the delightful Scottish Poetry Library, the extensive National Library of Scotland and the city's friendly lending libraries.

If the Poetry Library only whets your appetite for poetry, then investigate what else is based in the city: Scottish Pamphlet Poetry, Beatnix performance poetry and the Shore Poets are all active in Edinburgh, and there are plenty of poetry events - just search our events listings.

If you know someone that wants to improve their reading ability, then there are people out there offering free guidance and a great range of classes for all ages and reading levels - we've listed these literacy groups in detail in our Learning section.

The Scots language is represented in Edinburgh by Scottish Language Dictionaries and ItchyCoo, publisher of Scots books for bairns and an imprint of Black and White Publishing.

If you've fallen in love with the works of one particular author and want to meet other fans, then how about joining one of the city's literary societies?  Most societies run events and produce publications, while the Saltire Society is more widely interested in championing Scottish literature and organises annual book awards.

If you're after general arts opportunities, advice or an international perspective, then investigate the Scottish Arts Council, which does offer some funding for writers and runs fellowship schemes and awards, and the British Council Scotland, which is involved in promoting Scottish culture and also offers training opportunities.