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The Scottish Poetry Library is a public library specialising in Scottish poetry. Since 1999, the library has been based at 5 Crichton's Close, just off the
The SPL’s work on wellbeing themes has included reminiscence activity supporting people with dementia in care settings, and the Tools of the Trade anthologies that are gifted to every graduating doctor, teacher, nurse & midwife in Scotland. In 2020, the SPL led on a mapping project of Scotland’s Creative Words for Wellbeing practitioners. This resulted in the SPL commissioning reader development and creative writing workshops with people experiencing long-COVID, along with classes for teachers, mothers and a partnership programme with Lapidus Scotland focusing on COVID-recovery and renewal.
In the international arena the SPL has partnered with Literature Wales and Poetry Ireland, as well as the cultural programmes of the Scottish Government Hubs in Dublin, Brussels, Paris, Berlin and London. Further afield, the SPL was commissioned by the British Council to engage with cultural organisations and artists in Quebec.
The SPL supports the Callum MacDonald Memorial Award for Scottish poetry pamphlets, presented in partnership with the Satire Literary Awards. In 2021, the library sponsored the Best Poetry Book category in the Gaelic Book Awards. The library is represented on a number of advisory and advocacy groups, including Literature Alliance Scotland, the Scots Language Resources Network and the RIVAL network for librarians and information professionals. The library supports professional development initiatives, including the Scottish Book Trust’s New Writers Awards scheme. In 2016, the SPL was recognised with a Creative Edinburgh Award for its diverse programming.
In 2020, the SPL relaunched its Ambassadors programme to promote its presence in the regions, and work produced in Scottish Gaelic and Scots languages. The first cohort of Ambassadors were Aoife Lyall, Ceitidh Campbell, Hugh McMillan and Thomas Clark.
Since 1999, the library has been based at 5 Crichton's Close, just off the
The Scottish Poetry Library is a public library specialising in Scottish poetry. Since 1999, the library has been based at 5 Crichton's Close, just off the Canongate
The Canongate is a street and associated district in central Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. The street forms the main eastern length of the Royal Mile while the district is the main eastern section of Edinburgh's Old Town. It began ...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
's Old Town
In a city or town, the old town is its historic or original core. Although the city is usually larger in its present form, many cities have redesignated this part of the city to commemorate its origins after thorough renovations. There are ma ...
.
History and status
The library was founded in 1984 by poetTessa Ransford
Teresa Mary ("Tessa") Ransford (8 July 1938 – 2 September 2015) was a poet, activist and the founding director of the Scottish Poetry Library.
Biography
Teresa Ransford was born in Mumbai, India on 8 July 1938. Her mother was Lady Torfrida ...
. Tom Hubbard
Tom Hubbard (born 1950) was the first librarian of the Scottish Poetry Library and is the author, editor or co-editor of over thirty academic and literary works.
Biography
Tom Hubbard was born in Kirkcaldy.
After obtaining first class honour ...
was its first librarian. The present Director, Asif Khan, was appointed from June 2016. Khan is supported by a team of librarians and specialist staff with expertise in collections management, engagement, learning, events, publishing and communications.
The SPL is a limited company with charitable status. From November 2020, its Board was co-Chaired by Gordon Munro and Charlie Roy. The SPL has status as a Creative Scotland Regularly Funded Organisation (RFO) with a remit to support audience development, literacy through reader development and creative writing classes with diverse groups, schools and public libraries, and to promote opportunities for writers and performers for showcasing their talents at home and abroad.
Programming and collaboration
The SPL’s work on wellbeing themes has included reminiscence activity supporting people with dementia in care settings, and the Tools of the Trade anthologies that are gifted to every graduating doctor, teacher, nurse & midwife in Scotland. In 2020, the SPL led on a mapping project of Scotland’s Creative Words for Wellbeing practitioners. This resulted in the SPL commissioning reader development and creative writing workshops with people experiencing long-COVID, along with classes for teachers, mothers and a partnership programme with Lapidus Scotland focusing on COVID-recovery and renewal.
In the international arena the SPL has partnered with Literature Wales and Poetry Ireland, as well as the cultural programmes of the Scottish Government Hubs in Dublin, Brussels, Paris, Berlin and London. Further afield, the SPL was commissioned by the British Council to engage with cultural organisations and artists in Quebec.
The SPL supports the Callum MacDonald Memorial Award for Scottish poetry pamphlets, presented in partnership with the Satire Literary Awards. In 2021, the library sponsored the Best Poetry Book category in the Gaelic Book Awards. The library is represented on a number of advisory and advocacy groups, including Literature Alliance Scotland, the Scots Language Resources Network and the RIVAL network for librarians and information professionals. The library supports professional development initiatives, including the Scottish Book Trust’s New Writers Awards scheme. In 2016, the SPL was recognised with a Creative Edinburgh Award for its diverse programming.
In 2020, the SPL relaunched its Ambassadors programme to promote its presence in the regions, and work produced in Scottish Gaelic and Scots languages. The first cohort of Ambassadors were Aoife Lyall, Ceitidh Campbell, Hugh McMillan and Thomas Clark.
The building
Since 1999, the library has been based at 5 Crichton's Close, just off the Canongate
The Canongate is a street and associated district in central Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. The street forms the main eastern length of the Royal Mile while the district is the main eastern section of Edinburgh's Old Town. It began ...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
's Old Town
In a city or town, the old town is its historic or original core. Although the city is usually larger in its present form, many cities have redesignated this part of the city to commemorate its origins after thorough renovations. There are ma ...
. The library building was designed by Malcolm Fraser Architects
Malcolm, Malcom, Máel Coluim, or Maol Choluim may refer to:
People
* Malcolm (given name), includes a list of people and fictional characters
* Clan Malcolm
* Maol Choluim de Innerpeffray, 14th-century bishop-elect of Dunkeld
Nobility
* Máel C ...
, and was shortlisted for Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a four ...
's "Building of the Year" in 2000. It has been described as "a poem in glass and stone", and was included in '' Prospect'' magazine's 2005 list of the 100 best modern Scottish buildings.
Further reading
* Hubbard Tom (1992), "Scandic Scots: Some Scots- Scandinavian Poetic Connections", in Hubbard, Tom (2022), ''Invitation to the Voyage: Scotland, Europe and Literature'', Rymour, pp. 96 - 103,References
External links
* {{Coord, 55.9514, -3.1781, type:landmark_region:GB, display=title Scottish poetry Academic libraries in Scotland Libraries in Edinburgh Tourist attractions in Edinburgh Old Town, Edinburgh 1984 establishments in Scotland Library buildings completed in 1999 Libraries established in 1984 Poetry organizations Modern architecture in the United Kingdom