Reaching  
People: 
Library Strategy  
2020-2025



In 2015, the National Library 
of Scotland launched The Way 
Forward: Library Strategy, 2015-
2020 as the first of two five-year 
strategies to take the Library to 
its centenary in 2025. Reaching 
People: Library Strategy, 2020-
2025 is the second strategy, 
concluding in the year the Library 
celebrates its 100th anniversary.

There are strong elements of 
continuity between the two. This 
is clearest in our continued focus 
on safeguarding collections and 
improving access to them. These 
two areas were strongly supported 
in our public consultations and link 
directly to our statutory function as 
Scotland’s legal deposit library.

However, there are important 
differences between the strategies. 
Reaching People: Library Strategy, 
2020-2025 will emphasise 
connecting with multiple audiences 
and enriching lives with our 
content and services. 

The first five years of our ten-
year journey to our centenary 
focused on building infrastructure, 
capacity and resilience, while 
growing partnerships, reputation 
and income. The second 
period concentrates on sharing 
information, knowledge and 
experiences with a diverse 
audience in Scotland and  
around the globe. 

In developing this strategy, we 
have listened carefully to the 
results of audience surveys and to 
user feedback. These have told us 
clearly about the need to enhance 
the facilities in the George IV 
Bridge building in Edinburgh and 

the desire for greater access  
to collections in digital formats.

To achieve this, we will launch a 
series of programmes and projects 
to deliver important aspects of 
our plans for the next five years. 
Work has begun on the potential 
redevelopment of the main  
Library building in Edinburgh.  
A programme of preservation and 
digitisation of moving image and 
sound will save some of the most 
fragile formats in the country from 
disintegration. A project will be 
developed to preserve, digitise 
and make available to the nation 
Scotland’s newspaper heritage. 

We will also continue to explore 
opportunities to reach people 
outside Scotland’s central belt.  
We have partially addressed this by 
significantly expanding our digital 
services over the last five years. 
The new strategy aims to intensify 
this work. The events of 2020 
have demonstrated how important 
this is. In a similar vein, we will 
bring to the foreground our web-
archiving activity and electronic 
legal deposit of published content 
as a growing source for Scotland’s 
online memory. In the first wave of 
initiatives, a large-scale digitisation 
project with an international partner 
will be pursued.

The Library will address the 
silences, including historical 
biases, in our collections. We will 
analyse our inventory to identify 
and recognise under-represented 
communities to allow us to create 
a more representative national 
collection into the future.

A powerful backdrop to our 

deliberations has been a strong 
sense of Scotland’s historical and 
cultural past. Few countries have 
more fully embraced the ability 
of literacy, education and civic 
discourse to improve their people 
and develop their economy. 
The Library will continue to be a 
place where ideas, debate and 
discussion take place.

We have seen in the year we 
commence this new strategy 
how important it is that we are 
prepared for rapid change which 
will require flexible working and 
creative thinking. Our response 
to the Covid-19 pandemic 
demonstrated an agility that  
will frame our thinking for the  
next decade. 

Of equal importance has been 
the recent publication of A Culture 
Strategy for Scotland by the 
Scottish Government (February, 
2020) which will provide important 
national guidance for our work.

The Library strategy has been 
produced in collaboration with 
the Library Board, our staff, our 
partners, groups and individuals. 
The feedback and ideas are 
reflected in the final document.  
I am extremely grateful for all the 
ideas, enthusiasm and support  
we have received throughout  
this conversation about the  
future shape and direction of  
the National Library. 

Working together, I am confident 
that Reaching People: Library 
Strategy 2020-2025 will make 
the Library a truly national library 
fit for the 21st Century when we 
celebrate our 100th birthday.

2 |  National Library of Scotland 

Introduction
Dr John Scally
National Librarian



Strategy 2020-2025 | 3



Participation in cultural activities 
is at a historical high and the 
overall use of the Library’s 
content is buoyant. However, 
the way the Library is used is 
changing. Though the number 
of reading room visits is steady, 
we have seen greater numbers 
visit to view the exhibitions, 
attend talks and take part in 
other educational activities.  

The way people access 
culture using digital technology 
also continues to evolve, so 
we must keep innovating 
to meet demand and stay 
relevant. In the coming years, 
it will be necessary to deliver 
our services through multiple 
channels for those who may not 
have access to our buildings. 

Most of the Library’s income  
is from the Scottish Government. 
The Library has vast physical 
collections, requiring more than 
150 miles of shelving across four 
different sites. Our expanding 
digital collections are held in 
two datacentres in Edinburgh 
and Glasgow and, increasingly, 
in the Cloud.  

All of this needs to be 
regularly refreshed and 

upgraded to preserve the 
national collection from threats 
such as fire, water, bit-rot 
(deterioration of data) and 
cyber-attacks. Nevertheless, 
we know that there are many 
competing demands and that 
pressure on public funding is 
likely to continue. Over the past 
five years, there has been more 
reliance on external grants and 
donations. The diversity of the 
Library’s income will continue  
to grow.

Although the Library has 
always been a strong advocate 
of open access, we know  
there are socio-economic  
and geographical variances  
in how people engage with  
the Library. Accordingly,  
themes of equality, diversity  
and inclusion underpin the  
new strategy and we know this 
is an area where we must strive 
to make our collections and 
services more representative  
of the whole nation. 

Partnerships will continue to 
be of critical importance. Our 
relationship with the Faculty of 
Advocates goes back more than 
300 years and our work with the 

other five legal deposit libraries 
is fundamental in collecting, 
preserving and making  
available digital and physical 
content. We continue to learn by 
working with other organisations 
and these partnerships help 
us identify where we can 
become stronger. Over the 
past five years, Memoranda 
of Understanding have been 
signed with the universities 
of Glasgow and Edinburgh, 
Scottish Enterprise, and, most 
recently, BBC Scotland. The 
Library has also gone on the 
road with its touring exhibitions. 
More of these partnerships  
and collaborations will help  
us develop services for the 
people of Scotland and  
extend our user base.

Much has been achieved over 
the past five years. There has 
been more experimentation and 
some well-judged risk-taking. 
We have developed our own 
voice on social media – a mix  
of humour and candid views  
on the role of libraries in an  
era of misinformation.  

4 |  National Library of Scotland 

The Operating 
Environment



Strategy 2020-2025 | 5



The National Library will be a 
familiar and valued institution 
across Scotland, recognised for its 
outstanding collections and services. 
It will be known as a Library with 
responsive and accessible services, 
simple to find and easy to use at the 
click of a button, the tap of a screen, 
or by simply walking into one of  
our buildings. 

As Scotland’s premier research 
library, we will be a place where 
researchers and scholars are  
valued and supported as our 
original core audience. We are 
continually evolving our services 
and growing our collections to  
meet their varying needs.

Many of our visitors will be 
regulars, taking the opportunity 
to enhance their knowledge of 
family, community, hobbies or 
current issues, such as climate 
change. Those studying towards 
qualifications, pursuing continuous 
professional development or 
researching a business idea will 
find a mixture of tailored resources 
to satisfy their information needs. 

Young people and families will 
increasingly find the Library a 
welcoming place, with a growing 
programme of events designed  
for them.

The Library’s collections will be 
more comprehensive and more 
representative of the whole nation. 
Our physical and digital collecting 
will be guided by our role as the 
guardian of the published and 
recorded memory of Scotland. Our 
web-archiving and digital collecting 
activities across the nation will 
be deeper, wider and more 
representative. We will address the 
silences in our collections to ensure 
that a richer variety of voices, views 
and experiences are collected, 
described and curated.

The Library’s digital scholarship 
services will be amongst the best in 
Europe, delivered through the Data 
Foundry, a dynamic destination 
where our data can be downloaded, 
reused and replayed.

By 2025, we will be a Library that 
offers a personalised experience to 
every resident in Scotland.

6 |  National Library of Scotland 

What the 
National 
Library will 
look like  
in 2025



Strategy 2020-2025 | 7



Open
We commit to openness and 
transparency in all areas of  
our work. We aim to make  
our collections and our related 
work free, open and reusable 
wherever possible.

Trusted
We provide accurate and reliable 
information to support debate  
and discussion.

Inclusive
We are responsive and inclusive  
as we build and interpret 
collections for current and future 
generations. We will challenge 
ourselves, our assumptions and our 
policies in order to create a more 
inclusive collection and a more 
diverse audience. 

Connected
We work collaboratively to 
improve our services and  
extend the benefits they offer.

Inspiring
We believe in the power of the 
collections to change lives through 
learning, research, discovery and 
improved wellbeing. We actively 
support participation in culture and 
heritage for everyone. 

Responsible
We commit to minimising our 
environmental impact, and  
to creating a more sustainable, 
resilient and healthy environment 
for future generations.

Mission
To enhance Scotland’s 
international reputation by 
making a significant and 
lasting contribution to global 
knowledge and the memory 
of the world.

Vision
To create opportunities for 
people to participate in 
Scotland’s rich cultural life as 
one of the leading national 
libraries in Europe.

How we work
The National Library of Scotland is a place for inspiration, exploration,  
and enjoyment. Everyone is treated with dignity and respect. 
These are our guiding principles:

8 |  National Library of Scotland 

Mission, 
vision and 
how we 
work



Strategy 2020-2025 | 9



1.  We are the guardian of the 
published and recorded memory 
of Scotland for current and 
future generations.

1.1 We will collect, preserve and make available 
diverse materials that represent the lives and 
memories of Scotland’s people, and which 
contribute to world knowledge.

1.2 We will work with partners to secure the  
nation’s fragile moving image, sound and 
newspaper collections.

1.3 We will preserve and make available the online 
memory of Scotland through our web-archiving 
activities, placing the nation at the forefront of 
open content archiving.

1.4 We will work to address the silences in the 
collections to ensure a richer and more 
representative variety of voices, views and 
experiences of 21st Century Scotland are collected 
and curated.

Our 
strategic 
priorities 
for 2020-
2025

1SAFEGUARDING COLLECTIONS

10 |  National Library of Scotland 



Strategy 2020-2025 | 11



Our 
strategic 
priorities 
for 2020-
2025

12 |  National Library of Scotland 



2.  We make it easier for people  
to access the collections. 

2.1 We will deliver outstanding digital engagement, 
helping people to use the collections in the most 
creative ways possible.

2.2 Joining and using the Library will be simple and 
seamless, opening up a personalised world of 
knowledge, learning and entertainment.

2.3 People will have access to more than 10 million  
of the Library’s items in digital format as we  
complete our ‘One Third Digital’ initiative.

2.4 It will be easier to discover the Library’s special and 
hidden collections through our programme of online 
listing, cataloguing and discovery work.

2.5 We will provide a safe and trusted environment for 
informal learning and activity that promotes wellbeing. 

2IMPROVING ACCESS

Strategy 2020-2025 | 13



3.  We put audiences at the heart 
of everything we do and offer  
a rich variety of ways for 
people to participate and 
engage with their heritage. 

3.1 We will take an audience-led approach to the 
development and delivery of all the Library’s 
services and cultural experiences.

3.2 We will employ the latest technologies and 
expert staff to transform our public spaces into 
inspiring and welcoming destinations for research, 
discovery, lifelong learning and entertainment.  

3.3 We will engage communities throughout Scotland 
with the collections – through touring exhibitions, 
targeted learning and outreach activities, and 
innovative online content.

3.4 We will create new programmes and services  
to reach wider and more diverse audiences  
and to help support communities around  
Scotland to thrive.

3ENGAGING AUDIENCES

14 |  National Library of Scotland 

Our 
strategic 
priorities 
for 2020-
2025



Strategy 2020-2025 | 15



16 |  National Library of Scotland 

Our 
strategic 
priorities 
for 2020-
2025



4.  We encourage and support  
research, learning and discovery.

4.1 We will support the contribution of new knowledge  
to the world by developing research collaborations  
and research fellowships.

4.2 We will encourage investigations of the collections from 
different angles, uncovering untold stories and giving fresh 
perspectives on society and culture, including key areas of 
public debate such as climate change and misinformation.

4.3 We will develop our digital scholarship service by 
presenting the collections as data, opening up new 
possibilities for research, learning and creativity.

4.4 We will provide people with access to learning through our 
collections in support of the curriculum, lifelong learning, 
creative practice and continuous professional development.

4
SUPPORTING 
LEARNING, 
RESEARCH  
AND DISCOVERY

Strategy 2020-2025 | 17



5.  We will continue to be a great 
organisation to work for and with, 
developing new ways of doing, 
delivering and partnering. 

5.1 People – We will support, develop and train our  
staff and recruit new talent to enhance our existing  
skills and knowledge. 

5.2 Sustainability – We will continue our leadership role 
in environmental sustainability, developing a fuller 
understanding of our impact on the environment. We will 
reduce, monitor and reduce further the environmental 
footprint of all areas of our operation.  

5.3 Estates – We will ensure our property assets are 
maintained and improved and collections are held securely 
in appropriate environments by implementing our Property 
Asset Management Plan.

5.4 Data – We will use data to help the Library optimise its 
services and business processes. 

5.5 Finance – We will derive ‘best value’ from our current core 
income sources, develop diverse income streams and 
clearly communicate the value of the Library to external 
funders to attract additional income.

5.6 Partnerships – We will grow our partnership activity both 
nationally and internationally with the aim of introducing 
new ways of working, reaching new audiences and 
supporting Scotland’s vibrant cultural sector, especially 
libraries and archives.

5DEVELOPING THE ORGANISATION

18 |  National Library of Scotland 

Our 
strategic 
priorities 
for 2020-
2025



Strategy 2020-2025 | 19



How we 
support a 
successful 
Scotland

The preparation of the Library 
Strategy has been informed by the 
Scottish Government’s National 
Performance Framework (NPF).

The National Performance 
Framework was relaunched 
in 2018 and sets 11 national 
outcomes. These outcomes are 
designed to support delivery 
of the Scottish Government’s 

Purpose, which is:
To focus on creating a 

more successful country, with 
opportunities for all of Scotland 
to flourish, through increased 
wellbeing and sustainable and 
inclusive economic growth.

Although our work contributes 
to some extent to all of these 
outcomes, the Library is most 

closely aligned to five and we 
will monitor our performance 
against these. The table below 
shows how the Library’s 
outcomes match to the Scottish 
Government’s national outcomes.

On the following pages, we 
outline examples of how the 
Library’s work feeds into the 
national outcomes.

Scottish Government National Outcomes

National Library  
of Scotland 
Outcomes

We are creative 
and our vibrant 

and diverse 
cultures are 

expressed and 
enjoyed widely.

We are well 
educated, 
skilled and 
more able  

to contribute  
to society.

We have 
a globally 

competitive, 
entrepreneurial, 

inclusive and 
sustainable 
economy.

We tackle 
poverty 

by sharing 
opportunities, 

wealth and 
power more 

equally.

We value, 
enjoy, 

protect and 
enhance our 
environment.

We are the guardian 
of the published and 
recorded memory of 
Scotland for current  
and future generations.

We make it easier  
for people to access  
the collections.

We put audiences at the 
heart of everything we 
do and offer a rich variety 
of ways for people to 
participate and engage 
with their heritage.

We encourage and 
support research, 
learning and discovery.

We will continue to  
be a great organisation 
to work for and with, 
developing new ways  
of doing, delivering  
and partnering.

20 |  National Library of Scotland 



We are well educated,  
skilled and more able  
to contribute to society.

 The National Library is widely acknowledged 
as the premier library for many of Scotland’s 
research communities.

 We contribute to and create innovative resources 
for use in schools including ‘Scotland on Screen’ 
and the ‘National Library Learning Zone’.

 We link with Scottish universities, colleges  
and schools on innovative research projects.

 More than 85 per cent of higher education 
students who completed the last audience survey 
said the Library helped advance their education. 

 By supporting the knowledge economy, we 
contribute to a modern, successful Scotland.

We are creative and our vibrant 
and diverse cultures are 
expressed and enjoyed widely.

 Our collections help to enhance Scotland’s 
international reputation for the quality of its 
literary, scientific and cultural heritage, and  
for treasuring this heritage.

 By collecting and recording the knowledge  
of Scotland we preserve the memory bank  
of the nation. 

 The Library has the world’s largest collection  
of Scottish Gaelic material.

 Research into family history is supported, 
helping many people trace their Scottish  
family background.

 Our exhibitions attract many international 
visitors, adding to their understanding  
of Scottish identity.  

 More than 48 per cent of all respondents  
to the last audience survey said the Library 
helped them better understand Scotland’s 
culture and history.

Strategy 2020-2025 | 21



We tackle poverty 
by sharing 
opportunities, 
wealth and power 
more equally.

 We provide free access 
to all our collections,  
online and onsite. 

 We continue to seek 
community benefits through 
our procurement activities. 
This includes fair work 
practices such as the  
Living Wage.

 We provide work experience 
and volunteer opportunities.

 We have an active outreach 
programme that works with 
schools, local community 
projects and community 
libraries across Scotland.

 All our educational resources 
link to the Curriculum for 
Excellence and are promoted 
to schools across Scotland.

We have a globally 
competitive, 
entrepreneurial, 
inclusive and 
sustainable 
economy.

 Our collection of business 
information resources is one 
of the largest collections of 
company and market data in 
the United Kingdom, and is 
a key potential resource for 
Scotland’s business community.

 We are the only National 
Library in the United Kingdom 
that provides direct access to 
an extensive range of market 
research reports, company 
and news data, and guides 
to starting and running a 
business directly via the  
web, free of charge, to 
registered users.

 We can deal with business 
enquiries in person, by phone 
or email, or via our Library 
online chat service.

 We have worked with 
collaborators to develop 
the Business & Intellectual 
Property Centre in Glasgow.

We value, enjoy, 
protect and enhance 
our environment.

 We have reduced greenhouse 
gas emissions by more than 
69 per cent from 2008-2009 
baseline levels.

 Energy consumption has been 
reduced by 54 per cent from 
2008-2009 baseline levels.

 The percentage of waste  
that is recycled now exceeds 
67 per cent.

 We continue to operate a 
sustainable procurement policy. 

How we 
support a 
successful 
Scotland

22 |  National Library of Scotland 



Strategy 2020-2025 | 23



The National Library of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity. No. SC011086
DOI: 10.34812/zzxs-sr08

George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EW
0131 623 3700
www.nls.uk