The Library Blog

Edinburgh Napier University Library blog. Filled with useful and fun blog articles on using the Library, the University, Edinburgh and many other fun topics.

Month: October 2026

Halloween

Halloween

31/10/2026 / / 0 Comments

Halloween

 

Trick or treat! Halloween is officially here – celebrated annually and widely on the 31st of October every year. Get ready for a full day of costumes, candy and spooky celebrations of this annual holiday and season. Maybe even some pumpkin carving or picking is on the cards – how exciting! Have you ever wondered where Halloween originated from and why we celebrate it? It all goes back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain dating back 2,000 years ago…

 

The word ‘Samhain’ essentially means ‘summer’s end.’ It indicates the transition from the harvest season to the beginning of the winter period, which was also historically defined as the Celtic new year. The Celts commonly believed that Samhain was when the boundary between our world and the spirit world blurs and allows spirits to roam in ours. Some of these spirits were thought to be mischievous gods who would come through to our world to cause chaos and play devious tricks on individuals and communities at the time. Spooky! But great inspirations and foundations for the emergence of Halloween, formally referred to as All Hallows Eve.

Fun and Freaky facts about Halloween

Here are some fun and freaky facts about Halloween and some of it’s traditions:

 

  • Did you know that the tradition of dressing up for Halloween goes back 2,000 years – all the way back to Samhain in fact! On this day, the Celts would get dressed up in spooky costumes and disguises to disorientate and ward off evil spirits as well as lighting bonfires for extra protection.
  • Trick or treating is also a well-known Halloween tradition which started centuries ago in Medieval England. Back then, it was called ‘Souling.’ The practice of ‘Souling’ was very similar to how we do trick or treating in the modern day and involved individuals going door to door on All Saints Day and praying or singing at someone’s door in exchange for food or commodities. The type of food most often offered was a ‘Soul Cake,’ which was a small spiced and sweet cake that usually had the texture of a shortbread biscuit, cookie or scone rather than a soft sponge like most traditional cakes. Sounds delicious!
  • It was originally turnips that people would carve before the 19th century – not pumpkins! Sometimes, potatoes, radishes or beets would be used if that was the only thing available to them at the time. People believed that carving an angry looking face on a turnip or other suitable vegetable and carrying it around with them in a lantern or leaving it outside their houses would offer them protection against evil spirits and harm. It soon became pumpkins that were most frequently used after a mass migration of Irish people over to the US in the 19th This is because pumpkins were more readily available due to being easier to grow over in the US so this eventually became standard practice and tradition as we know today!

Halloween reading list

We have compiled a list of the library’s top picks of books, articles, films and videos for Halloween. Check this out by signing into LibrarySearch then by going to the Reading Lists tab. Search for ‘The Library’s Halloween Picks’ to find your next spooky read!

 

By Rachel Downie

 

Photo by Stephen Van Elk

 

We have plenty of ghost stories for you

library books

National Authors Day

28/10/2026 / / 0 Comments

National Authors Day

Today is National Authors Day – a time for us to show some appreciation and love for the wonderful writers, thinkers and academics whose works keep our bookshelves stacked and library catalogue full. It is also a chance for us all to celebrate and honour the contributions of authors to culture and literature in society. This includes authors of all kinds of works: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screenwriting, song writing, columnists, bloggers, and so much more! Their impact on individuals and society as a whole is so profound in terms of how they can vividly bring stories, experiences, ideas and perspectives to life, often in a way that can invoke strong emotions and feeling within various audiences. As part of National Authors Day, we have decided to ask ourselves within the library who our favourite authors are and say a few words about why they are our favourites specifically as well.

Some of our favourite authors…

J R. R. Tolkien – Alannah

  • “If I had to pick a favourite, I’d go with J.R.R. Tolkien. He’s considered the father of modern fantasy, and his Lord of the Rings series has had a massive global impact. He was also incredibly cool! He could speak around 35 languages (at varying levels of fluency), eloped with his wife as soon as he came of age (to the displeasure of his family), was a Professor of English Language at Oxford, fought in the First World War, and was best friends with fellow author C.S. Lewis! My favourite Tolkien anecdote is that he once dressed up as a polar bear for a fancy-dress party and started chasing people down the street! It’s nice to know that such influential individuals in literature also had their silly moments!”
  • J R. R. Tolkien has written a wide range of fantasy novels with his most popular and well-known works being The Lord of the Rings series and The Hobbit.

Agatha Christie

  • Recognised as the ‘Queen of Crime,’ Agatha Christie is a bestselling author of many murder mystery and detective novels. Her most popular and well-known works are ‘And then there were none’ (1939), her bestselling novel, and ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ (1934), which has been adapted into iconic films and screenplays. The Mousetrap – another classic written by Agatha Christie – was adapted into the world’s longest-running play with a total of 30,000 running performances.
  • Agatha Christie was born in Torquay in 1890 and wrote her first short story at the age of 18 years old. She eventually went on to write hundreds of murder mystery, crime and detective novels and sell billions of copies in English and billions translated from English as well. She is considered one of the most translated individual authors of all time. Upon a recent visit to Blackwell’s bookstore, I even discovered that they had a whole section dedicated to Agatha Christie’s books as well!

Morgan Housel – Rachel

  • I have decided to give a special shout out to Morgan Housel, writer of the infamous Psychology of Money, The Art of Spending Money, and Same as Ever. He has sold over 13 million copies of his books which have also been translated into more than 60 languages. He is also a partner at the Collaborative Fund, a leading venture capital firm with a primary objective of unleashing and investing in new generations of entrepreneurs through the expansion of opportunity to access capital for business ventures. His work in this field likely gave him a wealth of knowledge and experience regarding financial matters, thus influencing and likely being incorporated into much of his writing.
  • His book on the Psychology of Money explores the link between our psychology and spending habits and behaviours and how both can be interlinked. It touches upon the power of compounding and ultimately how effective money management and control of your spending habits can also help you achieve more control over your time as well as your finances.

Amélie Nothomb and Elena Ferrante – Adeline

  • “Amélie Nothomb is a Belgian writer who has been releasing a new book every year on average since the publication of her debut novel Hygiene and the Assassin in 1992. I find her writing style very unique and refreshing – no two of her stories are the same, and yet you can always recognise the flavour of her writing. The titles of her books can be puzzling and will only start making sense once you are deeply immersed into the story. Her books are dark and funny, even shocking at times, and when you start one, there is always the thrill of not being sure where the story will take you. The dialogues between her characters and her protagonists’ internal monologues are particularly witty. So far, my favourite books by Amélie Nothomb have been Antichrista and Journal d’Hirondelle. One of her probably best-known works translated into English is Fear and Trembling and it is a great read as well.”

Fyodor Dostoevsky and Others – Juliet

  • “Give me Dostoyevsky any day! The first time you read him, it’s a challenge, but once you get into the swing of how he writes his work is amazing. It’s timeless. My favourite is Crime and Punishment. For some of the most incredible writing I have ever read Nabokov is undeniable if challenging. Lolita is a masterpiece. Underrated is the work of Anais Nin. Raunchy subject matter for sure, but the way she writes is breathtaking. If you want something fantastical, Leonora Carrington and Jorge Luis Borges can’t be beat. For fantasy Sarah J Mass is the Queen. Her stories with powerful female lead characters are stunning as is her world-building. Sci fi/Dystopian I love pretty much all the greats Orwell, Bradbury and early Margaret Atwood to name a few.”
  • Fyodor Dostoevsky is a widely-recognised Russian author who has not only written the infamous Crime and Punishment, but has also written short stories, essays and philosophical papers as well which have majorly influenced modern psychology, global literature, and philosophical theories and perspectives regarding concepts such as existentialism.

By Rachel Downie

You can find many of these books in our library catalogue: Librarysearch.napier.ac.uk or why not join your local library and borrow them there

 

Photo of black cat

Black Cat Day : Luck, Legend and Loyal Companions

28/10/2026 / / 0 Comments

Black Cat Day: Luck, Legend and Loyal Companions

 As someone with their own black cat, this is a day I can appreciate. Black cats have always divided opinion. Some people see bad luck, while others see a sleek and loving companion. My grandmother taught me they were only bad luck if they crossed you from left to right. A bit of a challenge if they live in your house!

Scotland’s folklore welcomes the black cat as a sign of good fortune, and its Highland legends give the creature an air of magic. If a strange black cat turns up at your home, Scottish folklore says it signals prosperity. So the next time a stray appears on your doorstep, welcome it warmly. After all, it may bring good luck.

This year, National Black Cat Day falls on Wednesday 27 October 2026. It gives us the perfect excuse to explore the stories, the science and the real cats still waiting for homes.

Why We Celebrate Black Cat Day

The charity Cats Protection launched National Black Cat Day in 2011. The charity found that black cats in its care took, on average, a week longer to find a home than cats of other colours. Staff wanted to change that, so they created a day to celebrate these glossy felines. Since then, the campaign has grown across the UK. You can find more on the Cats Protection black cat page.

Meet the Cat Sìth

Scotland also has a far more mysterious black cat. The Cat Sìth appears in Highland folklore, and it resembles a large black cat with a white spot on its chest. Storytellers described it as a fairy creature. Some tales even made it a witch in disguise. In those stories, a witch could take cat form nine times, then stay a cat for life. Some say this idea helped create the saying that cats have nine lives.

The Cat Sìth also features in Samhain customs. Families left out a saucer of milk, hoping the cat would bless their home for the coming year. You can read more on Folklore Scotland. Perhaps you could try the tradition this Halloween.

Why Black Cats Need Our Help

Despite their charm, black cats still struggle to find homes. Cats Protection once reported that black and black-and-white cats take around 13 per cent longer to rehome than their more colourful counterparts. Superstition plays a part, and so do photographs. Dark fur can look dull on a screen, even though it shines in real life. In person, a black cat often looks sleek and striking.

Black cats also make wonderful pets. Most have a friendly nature and often seek cuddles from their favourite people. Their eyes often glow gold or copper against the dark coat. Furthermore, they suit almost any home, from city flats to country cottages.

Black cats have walked through Scottish stories for centuries. They have played the fairy, the witch and the lucky visitor. Today, they simply want a warm home and a soft lap. This Black Cat Day, celebrate the legends, then help a real cat write a happier ending.

Resources

Read more about Scottish folklore or learn more about history using our Library catalogue or why not check out more posts here on our blog.

By Juliet Kinsey (photo by author)

Safer Internet Day

Natural language searching vs searching techniques in EBSCO databases

21/10/2026 / / 0 Comments

Natural language searching vs searching techniques in EBSCO databases

AI- Assisted Search – natural language searching in EBSCO databases 

EBSCO Databases  

If you use our Library search engine LibrarySearch to search for books, journal articles and other resources, you may be familiar with EBSCO – the EBSCO platform hosts a variety of databases that you can search together or individually. 

Some of our popular EBSCO databases include:  

  • CINAHL Ultimate 
  • APA PsycInfo 
  • CAB Abstracts with Full Text  
  • ERIC  
  • MEDLINE 
  • SPORTDiscus with Full Text 

These are heavily used by our Nursing, Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Life sciences, sports sciences and education students, among others. 

You can find a list of all 17 EBSCO databases that we provide access to here: A-Z Databases. 

 

We want to introduce a feature of EBSCO databases that lets you search using natural language, e.g. like Google – this is an AI-assisted search, that EBSCO is calling , ahem, AI assisted search! 

 

What is AI-Assisted Search 

EBSCO describes this feature as follows :  

“AI-Assisted Search enables users to search in everyday natural language, making research more intuitive while quickly connecting them to relevant content.” 

This provides a natural language search experience where you can type an entire question rather than using keywords. 

AI translates the query that you type into the search box into a Boolean style search, which provides you with a relevant results list.  

How do I use it? 

Start in LibrarySearch and navigate to your chosen EBSCO database

Choose ‘E’ for EBSCO and choose 1 or more EBSCO databases

Choose Search options and ‘AI Assisted search’.

Now carry out your search using natural language – just type in your full question.

Click ‘Show refined query’ and this shows you how your search has been broken down and transformed into a Boolean Search.

You can choose AI assisted and traditional search methods in the same session, for example of you want to edit the query.

It also provides ‘Suggested search queries’, creating 3 possible follow up questions or directions of travel for the researcher.

You can opt to turn AI assisted search on and off on the Basic Search and Results pages.

When on the Advanced search screen, a user can find AI-assisted search listed as a Search mode, under the Search options tab (Search options > Search modes).

Where can I learn more?

Dawn Adams, Subject Librarian for School of Health and Social Care will run an online training session on October 29th 13.00 – 13.30 on using AI assisted search – book via LibCal – Use AI-assisted search in Ebsco databases – Home – Edinburgh Napier University

Everyone welcome regardless of Subject discipline!

How is EBSCO handling ethical concerns related to the use of AI?

Please see EBSCO Information Services Defines Guiding Principles for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (11 March, 2024) as well as EBSCO’s AI Tenets.

“EBSCO is committed to responsible and ethical use of AI in our research experiences. To learn more about how AI is used to support AI-assisted searching, visit: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Transparency Fact Sheet – AI-Assisted search”

More resources:

By Judy Wheeler

library books

Subject Librarians

14/10/2026 / / 0 Comments

Subject Librarians

Here at the library, we try our best to provide students with the support they need during their studies, Napier. Whether that be helping you find the books you need in the library or fixing any pesky IT issues you might be having. However, our Information Assistants aren’t the only people at the library who are here to help you. We also have our team of Subject Librarians here to help provide you with in-depth study support and research guides tailored to the different schools here at Napier.

Our Subject Librarians

There are five Subject Librarians in the library, and you can find a full list of them along with their contact details on the MyNapier library help page.
At our Sighthill campus library, we have Catriona Robertson, who serves as the Subject Librarian for the School of Applied Sciences (as well as the Department of Learning and Teaching), and Dawn Adams, who serves as the Subject Librarian for the School of Health and Social Care.
At Merchiston, we have Joyce Templeton at the School of Computing, Engineering & Built Environment, and Sarah Jeffcot with the School of Arts and Creative Industries.
And at Craiglockhart, we have Keith Walker for the Business School, which includes our law degree courses.

Subject Librarian Support

If you’ve got a question for the Subject Librarians or would like to arrange a 1-on-1 session to go over any concerns, you can just get in touch using the details linked above. The 1-on-1 sessions are especially useful if you have any research concerns. For example, if you’re unsure about how to use some of the more specialised and complicated databases used by the university (a common concern among some Health and Social Care students!) then you can get in touch with the Subject Librarian for your school and get the guidance you need.
The Subject Librarians can also advise you on how to understand and best make use of the different referencing styles used by the different departments here at the university, something that you’ll definitely need to get to grips with when it comes to writing your assessments!

Along with answering any questions you might have for them, the Subject Librarians are also responsible for writing the library LibGuides, a collection of in-depth guides to walk you through different aspects of research. These guides are tailored to each of our schools or to different aspects of research (such as reference management or literature reviews), so you can get the exact help you need. If you ever find yourself with a question about how to go about doing your research, then be sure to have a look at the appropriate LibGuide page before contacting the Subject Librarian. You might find out there’s already a LibGuide that has all the information you need.

The Subject Librarians also support you by working with your course lecturers and the library’s Resource Acquisitions team to manage the catalogue of books and journal articles that you have access to through the library.
Each Subject Librarian helps to oversee the library collection for their respective school, and is responsible for ensuring that the university has access to any of the materials included on your course reading lists. If there is a book your lecturer thinks would be just perfect to use as reading material for your module, then it’s up to the Subject Librarian to ensure that we can get a copy of it for the library.

 

We hope that this brief overview has helped you to better understand the role that our Subject Librarians play here at Napier, and the ways that your learning is supported by them, even if you don’t realise it!
And we hope that those of you who feel you need extra support in your studies now know who to contact for the help you need.

By Matthew Ferrie

Dyslexia Awareness.

Dyslexia Awareness.

08/10/2026 / / 0 Comments

Dyslexia Awareness.

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that affects millions of people worldwide. It is a lifelong neurological condition that often runs in families and affects people’s abilities in reading, writing and spelling.

People with dyslexia may have difficulty processing and remembering what they see and hear, which can affect their learning. Dyslexia can also affect other areas such as memory, maths, co-ordination, time-keeping and organisational skills.

Approximately 10% of the UK population is thought to be dyslexic, with around 4% being severely affected, but the condition is often misunderstood.

Under the Equality Act (2010), dyslexia can be classed as a disability. Dyslexia can affect children in education, adults in the workplace and situations in everyday life.

Everyone’s experience of dyslexia is different – it can range from mild to severe and can exist alongside other neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD, dyscalculia, dyspraxia and developmental language disorder.

 

Dyslexia Awareness Week.

Dyslexia Awareness Week UK runs from 5th to 11th October 2026.

The theme for this year’s Dyslexia Awareness Week is “Dyslexia in real life: At Work”, which focuses on adults with dyslexia and their experiences at work, particularly the impact that recruitment, communication, organisational processes, management, and access to additional support can have on dyslexic employees.

As a lifelong condition, dyslexia can have a major impact on a person’s working life. Everything from job applications to managing daily organisational tasks to career progression can be affected by dyslexia. Workplaces should be designed to encourage alternative ways of thinking to avoid creating obstacles that make it difficult for dyslexic employees to succeed.

Dyslexia does not lessen an individual’s intelligence or potential. Many people with dyslexia achieve great success. There are many famous people who are dyslexic, including Jamie Oliver, Sir Lewis Hamilton, Keira Knightley, Sir Jackie Stewart, Holly Willoughby, Jennifer Aniston and Sir Richard Branson.

Employees with dyslexia have a diverse range of skills and contribute to the workforce by thinking differently. They have many strengths, including creativity and observation. They can see patterns and trends in data and are good at problem-solving, often with an intuitive understanding of how something works. Workplaces should provide sufficient support for dyslexic employees through assistive technology and reasonable adjustments, enabling them to thrive in all aspects of their working lives.

World Dyslexia Awareness Day is on 8th October 2026 and is a global initiative which aims to raise the profile of dyslexia. It is committed to increasing awareness and understanding of the condition. It reminds us of the importance of supporting those with dyslexia by promoting inclusivity, access to education, and the use of effective strategies to support their learning journeys.

World Dyslexia Awareness Day aims to raise the profile of dyslexia for policymakers, educators, employers and the general public. Dyslexia is one of the most common learning differences, with around 700 million people affected worldwide. As well as raising awareness, World Dyslexia Day highlights the rights, capabilities and accomplishments of those who live with the condition. Dyslexia is a common condition which can be managed effectively with the correct support, and people with dyslexia can achieve their full potential.

 

Supporting People with Dyslexia.

There are several ways you can support people with dyslexia. First, learn about the condition and how it can affect people. Share information about dyslexia via social media to raise awareness; campaign for inclusive educational practices that accommodate students’ needs; support dyslexia organisations either by donating or volunteering; and encourage and support those with dyslexia to achieve their goals.

Employers should ensure workplaces are supportive environments that promote understanding, remove barriers, and inspire creativity, where dyslexic employees can contribute, develop skills, and prosper within the organisation.

Here at Edinburgh Napier University, the Disability Inclusion Team are available to ensure that every student has equal access to university life. The team can help students access the support they need during their time at university. The team work across all three campuses and offer support to students with a variety of learning difficulties, disabilities, and other support needs.

There are also a number of organisations which can provide information and support including Dyslexia Scotland, The Dyslexia Association and British Dyslexia Association.

 

Find out more:

Use LibrarySearch to find books and articles about Dyslexia.

 

By Sharon McMichael

reading

Wee Read Campaign 2026

07/10/2026 / / 0 Comments

Wee Read Campaign 2026

 

Most of us may have a wee read every day, which can include, but is not limited to, reading and do not identify with being a reader. Despite the fact that most of us may have a wee read every day, which can include and is not limited to reading the news, graphic novels, recipes, letters, emails, and even social media posts and content. The Wee Read campaign, which takes place on the 7th of October this year, celebrates all forms of reading. Whilst also encouraging individuals and communities to incorporate reading for leisure into their everyday lives and routines, whether this is for the first time in a long time or more often than they usually already do.

 

Fun Facts about Reading…

 

  • There is a strong link between reading for leisure in childhood and better academic performance and mental well-being later in an individual’s life.
  • Reading for leisure has a more significant influence and impact on a child’s cognitive development than their parent’s level of education or socioeconomic background.
  • Studies have shown that those who read for leisure often have higher self-esteem and resilience. Reading regularly for leisure is also associated with better sleeping patterns and quality.
  • Higher literacy rates are associated with higher employment rates and wages. Career progression is strongly linked to an individual’s level of literacy.
  • Reading for leisure has academic, economic, and socioeconomic benefits – 44% of those who identified as regular readers reported better mental health and well-being. This is compared with 23% of those who rarely or never read for leisure. This could coincide with the other various benefits that reading has, one of which is better sleeping patterns as mentioned!

 

All facts and statistics can be found in the Wee Read website. The benefits of reading for leisure for health, well-being, longevity, the economy, quality of life, and community are vast. This is a big part of why we and many other library institutions across Scotland have chosen to promote the Wee Read campaign this year.

 

Our participation in this year’s Wee Read campaign…

 

The Wee Read campaign is primarily run by libraries across Scotland, in collaboration with mental health charities, book retailers, educational institutions, and third-sector organisations, to promote reading nationally. One of the main objectives of this campaign is also to encourage patrons to use their local libraries more! Edinburgh Napier University campus libraries will be participating in the Wee Read campaign taking place this year on the 7th of October.

We will be setting up displays in our three campus libraries featuring fiction, poetry, graphic novels, comics, manga, and some non-fiction titles on wellbeing and general life. Some titles will also be set aside for a “Blind Date with a Book” activity where we will get willing patrons to take a slip from the desk with a number that will assign them a corresponding text to read for the Wee Read challenge.

 

Don’t worry! If the title does not sound like your cup of tea, you do not need to, borrow it or take it out on loan. This is simply an attempt to encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and discover new reads, genres, and books that may surprise you and that you might not usually read or pick up in a local bookstore or library! Have a book suggestion of your own that you would like to share? Feedback boxes and slips will also be put up in all three of our campus libraries where you can write any book recommendations you may have and share them with us.

What patrons have to say about public libraries…

 

Public libraries make reading free and accessible to all, but this is not the only purpose that they serve in society. They also serve as vital community hubs that provide patrons with digital access, printing facilities, Wi-Fi, and a quiet, warm space to study, read, or rest. It is a safe space where individuals can remain indefinitely without obligation to pay for any services. Public libraries welcome all patrons and serve a vastly diverse audience that may include people with protected characteristics.

 

Overall, many individuals greatly value public libraries – the Wee Read website has feedback recorded and highlighted regarding the positive impact public libraries have had on patron’s lives and the lives of their loved ones as well. Some of the quoted feedback is as follows:

 

  • “Libraries rekindled my passion for reading and studying. I wish I had discovered public libraries sooner.”
  • “Our local library is a village hub where people come together. It fosters a love of reading across all ages in the community and is a vital resource.”
  • “Since having children, the library isn’t just for my pleasure (browsing/borrowing books) but to encourage this love of reading for them.”
  • “It’s a comfort to know that I can easily access reading material at no cost whatever happens in my life but also have access to knowledgeable, professional staff who are kind and willing to help.”

 

Our Displays on Campus…

 

Our Wee Read campaign displays have been set up in all three of our campus libraries and have numbered slips to take and then bring to our library helpdesks where a member of our library team will issue you the book corresponding with the number on the slip you have selected. We also have suggestion boxes where you can write and post recommendations in for what could be included for the next Wee Read campaign and perhaps even to be added into our own library stock!

 

 

Got any questions about the Wee Read campaign 2026? Email library@napier.ac.uk, phone 0131 455 3500 or visit our library helpdesks during our staffed hours (Monday to Friday, 8:45am – 16:45pm).

 

By Rachel Downie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Poetry Day 2026

02/10/2026 / / 0 Comments

National Poetry Day 2026

The first Thursday in October is the UK’s National Poetry Day, a day dedicated to celebrating poetry in all its forms and giving us all the chance to come together and share in the pleasure of poetry.
As Scotland has such a rich history of poetry, we thought we’d take today to talk a little about poetry in Scotland, National Poetry Day itself, and a little bit about poetry here at Napier!

National Poetry Day has been celebrated in the UK for over thirty years and has seen participation from millions of people taking part in organised events such as discussions and workshops. Celebrations for the day are typically organised by the Forward Arts Foundation, but organisations across the entire UK join in with their own celebrations as well. Past celebrations have involved public readings and discussions hosted by poets, public displays of poetry in prominent locations, and workshops to help aspiring poets hone their craft.
You can find the full list of official events on the Forward Arts Foundation events page. However, you don’t need to join an official event in order to take part – just trying sharing some of your favourite poetry with people you know, or even write some yourself. One of the most beautiful things about poetry is that all you need to get started is a pen and paper!

Poetry in Scotland

Now, here in Scotland we have a long history of poetry stretching back hundreds of years, with epic poems of the medieval era such as Brus by John Barbour, and Blind Harry’s The Wallace, serving as romantic (and heavily fictionalised!) recordings of Scottish history that have done much to shape the popular view of medieval Scottish history. This tradition then continued over the following centuries, with Scottish poetry coming to place an emphasis on capturing Scottish vernacular and being written in either Scottish Gaelic or in the Scots language. From this tradition we have Robert Burns, perhaps Scotland’s most famous poet, who was known for collecting poetry and folk songs from around the country and adapting them to both Scots and English, along with discussing the important topics of his day such as the development of Scottish identity in Britain, issues of social class and the church, and gender.

By the twentieth century, Scotland would see a great revival of Scottish prose and poetry writing dubbed the Scottish Renaissance, with a new wave of writers helping to bring about a renewed interest in poetic works written that are written in Scots language and which tackle Scottish identity in the modern world. Edinburgh served as a major hub of this movement, with many prominent Scots poets such as Hugh MacDiarmid calling the city their home.

The Scottish Poetry Library

As a testament to this, Edinburgh is now how to the Scottish Poetry Library, which can be found just off the Canongate, a short walk from the Royal Mile. The Poetry Library is the heart of poetry in Scotland, with their website holding records of over 3,000 poems that you can read for free anytime you want. They also run several ongoing projects, such as their toolkit for running your own poetry workshop, which we can proudly say is being ran in collaboration with Edinburgh Napier University. Another project from the poetry library, ran in collaboration with Napier and other higher education institutes, was the Poems for Nurses & Midwives pocket book, an anthology of poetry intended to serve as a source of comfort and inspiration for newly qualified nurses and midwives. You can find a copy of the collection in our Sighthill Campus library in the Wellbeing Collection, and it is recommended reading for any of our student nurses who are making the transition to work.
The Poetry Library also works closely with Scotland’s national poet (known as the Makar) to promote poetry nationally. The current Makar of Scotland is Pàdraig MacAoidh, who is also the first Makar to write his work primarily in Gaelic.

Our Library

We here at Edinburgh Napier we are happy to have been the host of the Scottish Revival Network, a group led by academics here at the university dedicated to studying the work of the Scottish literary revival, including looks at Scottish poetry of the era. The network oversaw the publication of academic papers on the subject, as well as a range of different lectures. You can find recordings of many of these lectures on the Network’s Youtube page.
Also at Napier we have the War Poets Collection, dedicated to the memory of the poets of the First World War who were treated at Craiglockhart hydropathic, which is now the building that makes up our Craiglockhart campus. In the collection, you’ll find first edition copies of work by famed poets Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon, collections of prose and other written works relating to Craiglockhart, along with recordings of the poetry recited by legendary Hollywood actor Daniel Day Lewis, author Pat Barker, along with many others.

Of course, you can also check what poetry we have in stock at our campus libraries by checking on LibrarySearch. Your university membership also gives you access to the university’s Literature Online subscription, where you can find a huge variety of poetry and other written works.

By Matthew Ferrie

Black History Month 2025 image of arty peoples heads

Honouring Our Communities for Black History Month

01/10/2026 / / 0 Comments

Honouring Our Communities for Black History Month

Every October, Black History Month allows us to celebrate Black history, culture and achievements across the UK. This year’s theme is “Honouring Our Communities”. At Edinburgh Napier, that feels like a perfect opportunity to look closer to home. Our University community is full of people who are making a difference. They are students, graduates, staff, researchers, athletes, entrepreneurs, creatives and leaders. So this Black History Month, we are celebrating some of the people of colour who have been part of the Edinburgh Napier community and recognising the contributions they have made.

Panashe Muzambe: making history in Scottish rugby

For Panashe Muzambe, Edinburgh Napier was where a new passion began. Panashe studied Sport and Exercise Science at the University. Before then, rugby was not part of her sporting plans. She had grown up playing basketball. That changed when she attended a women’s rugby “come and try” session during her third year. She quickly fell in love with the sport.

Panashe became an early member of Edinburgh Napier’s women’s rugby team and went on to become team captain. Her university experience helped her develop her skills and confidence, both on and off the pitch.

Her achievements continued after graduation.

In 2019, Panashe became the first Black woman to play rugby for Scotland, making her international debut during the Women’s Six Nations Championship. She has since continued her career in rugby and coaching and was appointed Head Coach of Heriot’s Rugby Women for the 2025/26 season.

Her story is a reminder that sometimes university gives us more than the qualification we came for. It can also introduce us to opportunities, people and passions that change the direction of our lives.

Liseli Sitali: changing the game

Another Edinburgh Napier alumna making an impact is Liseli Sitali. Liseli studied English and Communications at Edinburgh Napier after moving to Edinburgh from Zambia at the age of 17. During her time at the University, she became a Student Representative, played hockey and worked as an International Marketing and Advertising Intern. A university assignment even helped open the door to her first major career opportunity. After Liseli wrote about branding and Formula One for her final-year assignment, her lecturer connected her work with Ferrari’s Head of Communications. She subsequently secured an internship with Ferrari’s racing division, Scuderia Ferrari.

Since then, Liseli has built an impressive career across sport, marketing and media. Her roles have included working with Ferrari, The Wall Street Journal, DAZN, Sky Sports and Expedia. But her work goes beyond her own career.

Liseli founded In Her Corner, a platform supporting women in sport, and has worked to create career and development opportunities for women and girls. She has also used her experience in marketing and sport to support greater visibility and opportunities for underrepresented talent.

Liseli received an Edinburgh Napier Alumni Award in 2013. Her story shows how the ideas, connections and opportunities developed at university can continue far beyond graduation.

Mary Abboah-Offei: Improving healthcare through research

Dr Mary Abboah-Offei is a Lecturer in Public Health at Edinburgh Napier University and Programme Leader for the MSc Healthcare Management. Her research focuses on public health, person-centred care and health inequalities. She is Principal Investigator for the ExtraCECI project, a major research programme exploring how community-based, person-centred care can improve the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS in Ghana. The project received around £1.5 million from the Medical Research Council.

Mary began her healthcare career as an emergency nurse in Ghana, and her experiences there helped shape her research interests. Through her research and teaching, she continues to connect healthcare practice, education and communities across Scotland and Ghana.

Dr Timothy Olawumi: Building a more sustainable future

Dr Timothy Olawumi is a Lecturer in the School of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment at Edinburgh Napier University. His work brings together construction, technology and sustainability, exploring how new approaches can help address some of the challenges facing the built environment.

Timothy has worked across academia and industry in Nigeria and internationally, including at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His experience includes major construction projects, including a US$4 million World Bank-funded bridge construction and highway rehabilitation project in Nigeria.

At Edinburgh Napier, his research focuses on sustainable construction and informatics. He also leads the development and delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in the built environment.

His work extends beyond the University too. Timothy is a member of the Green Building Council Nigeria’s Research and Development Board and co-founded Nigerian Researchers in Europe, where he supports and mentors research students.

Through his teaching, research and professional work, Timothy brings an international perspective to Edinburgh Napier while contributing to research into how we can create more sustainable buildings, infrastructure and communities.

Celebrating our community

These are just a few stories from the much bigger Edinburgh Napier community. They also show why this year’s Black History Month theme matters. Honouring our communities means looking at the people around us and the amazing contributions they make. We should be recognising the work people do to create opportunities for others and listening to different experiences and making space for new voices.

The University has also taken steps to strengthen its Black community and create a more inclusive environment. In 2024, Edinburgh Napier became the first Scottish higher education institution to partner with Black Professionals Scotland, supporting the University’s commitment to creating a more inclusive and representative community.

Want to learn more and check out some books or research: Librarysearch.napier.ac.uk can help

By Juliet Kinsey

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