Scottish Poetry Library

The Scottish Poetry Library (SPL) is a unique national resource and advocate for the art of poetry, and Scottish poetry in particular. They are seeking a motivated individual to take forward their new and ongoing projects in support of the SPL Business Plan. You will manage and deliver existing projects such as the publications in the Tools of the Trade series, produce resources for the Scotland-wide National Poetry Day initiative and actively seek new projects. The work will involve engaging…

The poets of Edinburgh are going about their day - recording podcasts, brewing small batch craft gins, and working their second demoralising temp job - but oh! They rise like meerkats. The poets of Edinburgh have heard a cry on the wind. It whispers to them in a voice like photocopied eviction notices. It repeats the same four words again and again: “The Fringe Is Coming! The Fringe is Coming! The Fringe is Coming!” They know, then, that they must…

The Scottish Makar, Jackie Kay is creating a collaborative poem with young Scots with a passion for poetry, which will be performed at the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2018 on 30th November at the SEC Glasgow. Young Scot has partnered with the Scottish Poetry Library to host this exciting workshop! ...and they’d like you to be part of this project! Jackie has taken residency with Young Scot as part of Year of Young People 2018. During the year, Jackie…

Hugh McMillan and Stuart A Paterson introduce their new collections: Looking South and Heliopolis. Learn more here.

The Scottish Poetry Library offers a seasonal chance to chat and schmooze with poets, with short readings (starting 2.15pm) from new pamphlets by popular poets M.R. Peacocke and D.A. Prince, and debut authors Geoff Lander and Helen Nicholson. From light verse on heavy science to the secret life of bookmarks — with drinks, and cakes from Alison Brackenbury’s Aunt Margaret’s Pudding. Learn more here.

Midweek Poems with Open Book is a weekly shared reading group, free and open to the public. Bring your appreciation of good poetry and listening ears as we read aloud and discuss several poems. Whether you are new to poetry or a long time reader, come join in as we dive deep into the world of poetry. Learn more here.

This exhibition celebrates some of the women of the small press movement, featuring work from the Scottish Poetry Library’s small press archive and pamphlet collections. ‘Women and The Small Press’ displays these pieces together for the first time, allowing them to converse with each other and with the SPL’s other collections and spaces. Artists featured include Laurie Clark, Margot Sandeman, Erica Van Horn, Autumn Richardson, Kathleen Lindsley and Jo Hincks. Learn more here.

Jacob Polley is a poet and novelist whose latest collection Jackself won the T.S. Eliot Prize and was described as ‘a firework of a book’. His poetry is complex, inventive and exciting. Learn more here.

The Scottish Poetry Library is proud to present its Christmas event, Die Bard, a poetic rendering of the classic action-slash-Christmas movie Die Hard. Last year, they transformed It’s A Wonderful Life into a sequence of newly commissioned poems, and this year they’re repeating the trick with Bruce Willis’ finest moment. Learn more here.

The Scottish Poetry Library is seeking a motivated and innovative individual to join its small but dedicated team as our Head Librarian to manage and develop our physical and digital collections, and library service staff. The successful candidate will be a professionally qualified librarian. A commitment to providing high-quality customer services to develop a welcoming environment is important. Candidates should be able to demonstrate an affinity for and understanding of the cultural, social and wellbeing benefits brought about by public…

This one-off Nothing But the Poem reading group will focus on the work of celebrated Scottish poet, Edwin Morgan, whose centenary year begins in April 2020. Morgan was Scotland’s first Makar (2004) and his career varied widely, with his working constantly evolving across multiple forms and genres. Nothing But the Poem, facilitated by Dr Samuel Tongue from the Scottish Poetry Library, takes a closer look at Edwin Morgan’s poetry. No experience necessary: everyone is welcome and poems are provided at…

Mindfulness Meditation and Mindful Writing at the Scottish Poetry Library is led by award winning poet and mindfulness teacher Colin McGuire. Mindful Writing: The Mindful-Writing course combines an introduction to Mindfulness Meditation practices combined with expressive and creative writing exercises. The course is open to all levels of mindfulness and writing experience. Each meditation practice is paired with specific expressive writing activity. Participants will also be encouraged to reflect and journal on their meditation experience after each practice. Learn more…

‘When power corrupts,’ John F Kennedy said, ‘poetry cleanses.’ But does it? Scottish Poetry Library's panel discussion-slash-reading will address the issue of poetry and power. Should poets be wary of politicians or embrace the chance ‘to speak truth to power’? Can political poetry go beyond sloganeering? And what about when poets become politicians? Panellists include poet and novelist John Burnside, poet and theatre-maker Harry Josephine Giles, poet and academic Dr Samantha Walton (Self Heal). The panel will be chaired by…