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.

Category: Books (Page 1 of 2)

LGBT+ History Month 2026 banner image rainbows and science people doing sciency things

🏳️‍🌈LGBT+ History Month 2026🏳️‍🌈

01/02/2026 / / 0 Comments

🏳️‍🌈LGBT+ History Month 2026🏳️‍🌈

Every February, the United Kingdom marks LGBT+ History Month. It’s a time to learn, reflect and celebrate the lives and achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and + communities. The month began in 2005, just after the repeal of Section 28 in England and Wales. It was founded by activists Sue Sanders and Paul Patrick of Schools OUT UK to make LGBT+ people and their histories visible.

This year’s focus is on science and medicine. Honouring LGBT+ contributions to research, healthcare delivery, public health, and patient care. It also challenges the historical harm that LGBT+ people have faced in healthcare systems.

Even today, many LGBT+ people experience barriers in healthcare. Some face discrimination, lack of culturally‑aware services, or mental health challenges tied to stigma. Celebrations like LGBT+ History Month encourage health services to become more inclusive.

Why is LGBT+ History Month important?

  • Understand LGBTQ+ Contributions: Gain insight into the rich history and achievements of LGBTQ+ people, recognising their significant impact on society.
  • Combat Bullying: Address and prevent bullying and discrimination against LGBTQ+ students by fostering empathy and respect.
  • Have Inclusive Education: Teach about LGBTQ+ people and the contributions they have made to make education more inclusive.
  • Celebrate Diversity: Acknowledge and celebrate the diverse identities and accomplishments of LGBTQ+ individuals, promoting a culture of acceptance.
  • Have Role Models: Show positive LGBTQ+ role models so students can see that being LGBTQ+ is something to be proud of.       (Source: The Proud Trust)

Pioneers in Medicine and Health

History often erases LGBT+ contributions. But many LGBT+ scientists, doctors, and health advocates changed the world. Here are a few key figures to celebrate:

Alan Turing (1912‑1954)

Alan Turing was one of the leading mathematicians of the 20th Century. He was a British mathematician and logician who made major contributions to mathematics, cryptanalysis, logic, philosophy, and mathematical biology. He is responsible for breaking the Nazi Enigma code, helping win WW2. Furthermore, his work would help lead to the creation of the modern computer. His most famous work is the paper published in 1950, asking “Can machines think?”

In 1952, Turing was convicted of gross indecency under Section11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885. Subsequently, he sadly took his own life not long after in1954. It wasn’t until 2009 that the British Government apologised for, and he was pardoned in 2013.

Sophia Jex‑Blake (1840‑1912)

Sophia was a trailblazing physician. She fought to open medical training to women in Britain. In 1869, she was one of the first women to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Her success helped open doors for others. She lived much of her life in a close relationship with Dr Margaret Todd, and many historians consider her part of LGBT+ history.

Cecil Belfield Clarke (1894‑1970)

Cecil was a doctor and innovator in the NHS. Born in Barbados, he studied medicine at Cambridge and then practised in London for decades. He made a lasting contribution with a method for calculating children’s medicine doses that is still in use. Clarke’s life also reflects the reality that many queer people had to keep their relationships private in earlier eras.

Magnus Hirschfeld (1868‑1935)

Hirschfeld was a German physician and sexologist. He challenged medical norms about sexuality and gender long before others. He founded the Institute for Sexual Science and spoke out for LGBTQ+ rights. His work laid the foundation for modern research and queer health advocacy.

Dr Sara Josephine Baker (1873‑1945)

Dr Baker was a public health hero. Working in New York slums, she reduced infant deaths by teaching mothers hygiene and infant care. She lived with her partner Ida Wylie and is now recognised as a lesbian pioneer in health. Her work shows how public health research impacts entire communities.

Alan L. Hart (1890‑1962)

Hart was a transgender physician who helped transform tuberculosis detection. He used x‑ray technology to find and treat lung disease, saving many lives. Hart’s dual identity as a scientist and trans man challenges stereotypes of who can be a leader in medicine.

The Library

Here at the Library, we think it is incredibly important to support and promote equality and diversity. Furthermore, we are working hard to create more inclusive collections and to support our LGBT+ users and staff. For example, we are currently creating a permanent LGBT+ virtual bookshelf here on our blog, and we are training our staff to be inclusive in their actions and the language they use.

Resources

If you are an LGBT+ student, you can join Edinburgh Napier’s LGBT+ Society.   You can also find out more about the student LGBT+ community on the Queer Napier site. Visit our web pages to learn more about becoming an ally. Here on the blog you can check out our virtual bookshelf

In addition, The Library has a wealth of books and articles on the subject. From the history of LGBT+ rights to current Legal information to keep you informed. Use LibrarySearch to find what you are looking for, or contact us for help with any of your research needs. 

Here are some items available through the Library to get you started: 

Same-sex, different politics: success and failure in the struggles over gay rights

Lgbt Activism and the Making of Europe A Rainbow Europe  

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people (LGBT) and the criminal justice system

Equality

By Juliet Kinsey

Read more on our blog with articles on : Alan Turing and Women in Science

International Children's Book Day AI generated image of a child with a book grinning

International Children’s Book Day

02/04/2025 / / 0 Comments

International Children’s Book Day

Unlocking Imagination and Knowledge in Children

April 2nd is a day filled with wonder and imagination. It’s International Children’s Book Day! This special day celebrates the joy of reading and honours the power of stories to shape young minds.

The Origins

International Children’s Book Day was first celebrated in 1967. It was established by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). The date was chosen to honour Hans Christian Andersen, the famous Danish author known for timeless tales like “The Little Mermaid” and “The Ugly Duckling.”

Why Reading Matters

Books open doors to new worlds. They spark creativity and teach valuable lessons. For children, reading is not just about words on a page. It’s about adventures, dreams, and learning about different cultures and experiences. Reading helps develop language skills, boosts imagination, and improves concentration. Plus, it’s a great way for families to bond.

The Role of Illustrations

Illustrations play a crucial role in children’s books. They enhance the storytelling experience, making it more engaging and easier to understand. Vibrant pictures help young readers visualize characters and scenes, aiding comprehension and memory. For early readers, illustrations provide context clues that support word recognition and vocabulary development. We have lots of great books on illustration including this one: When we were young : two centuries of children’s book illustration

Famous Children’s Books

  • “Harry Potter” by J.K. Rowling
  • “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White
  • “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak
  • “Matilda” by Roald Dahl

These classics have inspired generations and continue to captivate young readers. What are some of your favourite children’s stories? Comment below

The Power of Reading

Reading isn’t just fun. It helps build empathy and critical thinking. When children dive into stories, they step into different perspectives and learn about kindness, bravery, and friendship. With the help of beautiful illustrations, stories come alive and leave a lasting impact on young minds.

So have a Happy International Children’s Book Day. Perhaps you might want to write your own one day. If so check out lots of great resources at librarysearch.napier.ac.uk.

By Juliet Kinsey

read more fun posts on our blog such as: Books that shaped you

Best online resources for finding news: Times Digital Archive & NexisUni

World Book Day 2025

06/03/2025 / / 0 Comments

World Book Day 2025

Today marks World Book Day, and as a library blog, we couldn’t resist.

Introduction: Reading, the Joys and its Benefits…

When you are a student, nearly every day feels like World Book Day – with all the reading, you are set for tutorials and assignments. All the academic textbooks you find yourself skimming through relentlessly. And all the resource searching and navigating you will inevitably do as assignments start piling up and exams are looming.

Do you remember the last time you picked up a book to read for leisurely purposes? It has probably been a while!  And you likely feel very fatigued at the thought of even looking at another piece of text.

Regardless, World Book Day comes around every year on the first Thursday of March to promote the concept of reading for leisure.  We at Napier’s library services would like to promote this international day and love of reading as a universal concept for all. As reading truly brings so many benefits.

About World Book Day…

World Book Day falls on Thursday, the 6th of March this year – the first Thursday of the month. World Book Day itself is an annual charity event which was established by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) to actively promote and encourage a love of reading within communities across the globe. It is also known as World Book and Copyright Day or International Day of the Book. This is because this international day also acknowledges the significance of publishing. As well as copyright in the literary world and the roles that they both play in providing universal access to a variety of texts, but with protections in place for the original works of authorship regarding the rights of authors to decide how others use and utilise their work.

More about the Benefits of Books (and reading them) …

A wealth of evidence suggests that reading for leisurely purposes can aid with personal development and progression as well as academic success. Fun fact: Studies have found that individuals who read for at least thirty minutes a day live longer than those who do not. Considering the significant cognitive and emotional benefits that reading can have. Ranging from bringing comfort to helping stimulate one’s imagination.  It can essentially help to improve and enhance an individual’s health and well-being. Reading books can also expand one’s horizons and often help individuals to develop a more open-minded outlook on different matters. Thus helping those who read to develop interpersonal relationships and social connections with others with more ease. And if reading happens to be a shared hobby within one’s own social connections and community, all the better, especially if all of you enjoy similar genres and texts!

Book clubs are usually a great incentive for getting into or back into reading if you haven’t picked up a book for leisure in a while. It is also a great way to meet new people in your local community. There are also many wonderful bookshops located in the city of Edinburgh including Blackwells, Golden Hare Books and Topping & Company Booksellers in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh International Book Festival is also coming up in the summer. Running from the 9th to the 24th of August this year, the Edinburgh Festival is a distinctive event that takes place in the heart of Edinburgh every year.  Many famous authors, writers and thinkers come from across the world to host a varied programme of workshops and talks to audiences that have often also come from all across the globe.

Our Wellbeing Collection…

We at the library feel that World Book Day provides us with the perfect opportunity to promote our Wellbeing Collection. Not only do we have a range of resources providing advice and guidance on managing stress and finances. But also on adjusting to university life.  We also have some fictional and autobiographical texts available, which often tell inspiring stories of strength in periods of adversity and hardship, recovery and overcoming challenges in life. Our Wellbeing Collection stands and shelves are often located near our relaxation spaces. Spaces that are equipped with comfortable seating and couches. So, if you need to take a break from the textbooks and academic texts, why not pick up a book from our wellbeing collection stands or shelves and take a seat? We have a few recommendations from this collection, which can be found below.

¡ The Salt Path, Winn, Raynor, author, 2019, The salt path – Edinburgh Napier University – Available at Sighthill Campus Library. ¡

The Perks of being a Wallflower, Chbosky. Stephen, 2012, The perks of being a wallflower – Edinburgh Napier University – Available at Merchiston Campus Library.

¡ Into the Forest: How Trees can help you find Health and Happiness, Li, Qing, 1970, Into the forest: how trees can help you find health and happiness – Edinburgh Napier University – Available at All Napier Campus Libraries.

 

You can also find general recommended reads from our library staff in our recent blog post: Books that Shaped you

By Rachel Downie

Statue of Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens’ Birthday

07/02/2025 / / 0 Comments

Charles Dickens’ Birthday

Happy birthday, Charles John Huffam Dickens – born this day 212 years ago and still going strong!

Not many authors get their names turned into adjectives, but our Charles did. If I were to describe circumstances as “Dickensian”, you’d know exactly what I mean. It’s thanks to this forensic analysis of the seedier aspects of London life that he’s generally considered to be the greatest Victorian novelist.

Childhood

He didn’t have the best start in life, young Charles. His father had a decent job but was so financially reckless that he ended up in debtors’ prison, and his 12-year-old son was withdrawn from school and sent to work in a factory. It was all grist to the mill, though, for Dickens. This harsh start provided a rich source of material for him to draw on when he wrote his sprawling, serialized novels and created his many memorable characters – so much larger than life that they live on in our cultural imaginations more than two centuries on.

Characters

Who has not known an Ebenezer Scrooge? (I’ve known a few). How many of us have skelped an artful dodger around the lugs? (I’m not admitting to that one.) Who has not cheered on Philip (Pip) Pirrip as he rises up to become a gentleman and then remonstrated with him when he treats brother-in-law Joe so abominably? Who has not cried with Bob Cratchit as he strives to keep his young son alive?

You’ll have your favourite characters. Some are sweet and innocent, some are cruel and heartless; still, others are preposterous buffoons. My favourite is Betsey Trotwood, David Copperfield’s eccentric aunt. She’s stern and stubborn, to begin with but comes good in the end. If you’re looking for character transformation, look no further than BT.

Charles Dickens on LibrarySearch

We’ve got all Dickens’ books. If you haven’t read any, why not start today.  Log into the library catalogue LibrarySearch to see which are available:

In order of publication:

Pickwick Papers (1836-37)

A Christmas Carol (1843)

Oliver Twist (1837-9)

Nicholas Nickelby (1838-9)

The Old Curiosity Shop (1940-1)

Barnaby Rudge (1841)

Martin Chuzzlewit (1843-4)

Dombey and Son (1846-8)

David Copperfield (1849-50)

Bleak House (1852-3)

Hard Times (1854)

Little Dorritt (1855-7)

A Tale of Two Cities (1859)

Great Expectations (1860-1)

Our Mutual Friend (1864-5)

The Mystery of Edwin Drood (incomplete when Dickens died in 1870)

By Lesley McRobb

Read more on another Literary Master, Jane Austin in our post on her here.

Sources

photo by Taha (Unsplash)

Image of Library books everywhere

World Book Day 2024

07/03/2024 / / 0 Comments

World Book Day 2024

World Book Day 2024 – 7th March

When was the last time you got lost in a good book? Not a textbook. Not some dry academic thesis you have to crib for an exam. I mean a rollicking great thriller, or a classic Victorian spinechiller, or an autobiography of that sporting hero you’ve always admired. When was the last time you tucked yourself up in bed with Stephen King, Jane Austen or Terry Pratchett?

World Book Day promotes the idea of reading for pleasure. There is a wealth of evidence that shows that reading for pleasure – just the pure, unalloyed enjoyment of it – is important for personal development and helps in educational success. It stimulates the imagination, brings comfort, expands your horizons, helps to build social connections and promotes better health and well-being. All that from a book!

World Book Day is specifically aimed at children. But we want to remind you that reading for pleasure is like riding a bike – once learned, you never forget how to do it. So, if it’s been a while since you picked up a book just for the sake of it, why not do so today and re-discover that childlike state of wonder that only books create. As far as I’m concerned, the best thing about reading for pleasure is that I get lost in my own personal world and nobody else gets a look in.

World Book Day is celebrated on the first Thursday of March. But feel free to pick up a book on any day of the week, any month of the year. And if you happen to be in any of our libraries when you do so, why not pull up a chair, sit back and settle into your story.

Check out our relaxation space to settle into your story and find out more about World Book Day in Scotland.

By Lesley McRobb

A lover of books, read all our previous posts. 

Book Week Scotland 2023

13/11/2023 / / 0 Comments

Book Week Scotland 2023

Book Week Scotland

Book Week Scotland 2023 is here.

An annual celebration of books and reading, organised by the Scottish Book Trust to promote the joy of reading throughout Scotland. Between 13-19 November, a packed programme of in-person and online events and activities will take place in venues across the country. See the Scottish Book Trust website for more information about events taking place near you.

Every year, the Scottish Book Trust invite people from all over Scotland to write about their experiences and share their true stories as part of the Scotland’s Stories project. The theme for 2023 was Adventure. As part of Book Week Scotland, a collection of these stories has been published in a book which will be freely distributed in venues throughout Scotland. You can also read all the stories submitted on the Scottish Book Trust website.

Book Week Scotland at Edinburgh Napier

Edinburgh Napier University are pleased to be able to offer copies of Scotland’s Stories to students and staff. Pick up your copy in one of the campus libraries or student residences between 13-19 November before they’re all gone!

You can follow Book Week Scotland using all these social media platforms:

Facebook: facebook.com/BookWeekScotland

X

Instagram

Don’t forget, you can browse the thousands of books and journal articles. All available to students and staff at Edinburgh Napier University by using LibrarySearch

Or you can read about their past themes on our blog 

Image of a book and pen with writing forNational Poetry Day 6th October

National Poetry Day

05/10/2023 / / 0 Comments

National Poetry Day 5th October 2023

Today is National Poetry Day, a celebration that has been marked on the first Thursday of October since its inception in 1994. William Sieghart is a publisher whose stated aim is to help people “drop their fear of the p-word” . To that end, Sieghart founded this celebration of excellence in poetry, and since that first day,  NPD has reached an audience of more than 500 million people.

The celebration is not yet 30 years old, but poetry itself is as old as humanity. It may, in fact, be our oldest form of artistic expression; it certainly predates literacy. The word poetry comes from the ancient Greek poieo meaning “I create”, and humans have been creating down the centuries, using poetry to articulate every emotion as well as to record oral histories, and important events, to entertain and to offer prayer.

There are dozens of different types of poetry, from haiku to limerick, ode to epic.  But maybe you prefer one of the more modern free-verse forms. Maybe you’ve even had a go a writing a few of them yourself.  If you’d like to test your poetry skills on a wider audience, why not check out the various competitions currently open for submission. Find out more here:

National Poetry Library Competitions

The theme of this year’s National Poetry Day is Refuge.  Read more about the theme here:

About National Poetry Day – National Poetry Day

Library Resources for National Poetry Day

Of course, we have a huge range of poetry resources that you can access via LibrarySearch.

LibrarySearch Library Catalogue 

We have books on how to read it, how to write it, how the greats do it, and why it matters. We also have access to the Poetry Archive which houses recordings of poets reading their own work out loud. It features the works of contemporary poets alongside historic records of Seamus Heaney, W.B. Yeats, T.S. Eliot and many others.  Of course, we may be biased, but we believe that one of the best poems within the archive, is Library Ology, written and presented by Benjamin Zephaniah. You can listen to it here:

Library Ology – Poetry Archive

Or how about checking out Poets on Screen, a library of 879 video clips of poets reading their own and other poets’ work. We may be biased, but we love this tender and moving poem – The Keepsake – written and read here by Fleur Adcock (spoiler alert – it features witty librarian jargon).

The Keepsake Read by Fleur Adcock – Literature Online – ProQuest

Learn more about the power of reading in our post on International Literacy Day.

By Lesley McRobb

 

Image source: Unsplash Álvaro Serrano

Sherlock Holmes's silhouette on baker street underground stop

Arthur Conan Doyle

22/05/2023 / / 0 Comments

Arthur Conan Doyle

All the clues are there in the first few pages: the narcotics, the torpor, the scratching on the violin, the trusty but plodding assistant. It’s not long before we’re given a treatise on “the science of deduction and analysis” and the use of the word “elementary”. This is our first introduction to the world’s most famous consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes, who made his debut in the long story, A Study in Scarlet, published in 1887.

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes caught the reading public’s attention with his cold, calculating logic, and he went on to solve many seemingly insoluble cases, always accompanied by his loyal companion, Dr Watson.

So popular is Sherlock Holmes that he has been reincarnated in film many times over, most notably by Basil Rathbone, and more recently by Robert Downey Jnr, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Doyle’s Life

But he is, of course, a fictional creation, spun from the imagination of Edinburgh doctor, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. After graduating from Edinburgh university and studying in Vienna, Conan Doyle set up his own medical practice in the south of England. It didn’t do well, and to supplement his income he turned his hand to creative writing. His Holmes adventure stories were immediately successful and ensured that Conan Doyle kept writing them until they ran into several volumes.

To Conan Doyle’s lifelong chagrin, the success of the Sherlock Holmes stories overshadowed his other literary work. Who has heard of his 14th century knight, Sir Nigel, or his Napoleonic war hero, Brigadier Gerard? History was Conan Doyle’s great passion, and he wrote many fictional and non-fiction accounts of great historical events, and published his own psychic research into spiritualism.

It’s Conan Doyle’s birthday today. A pub named after him still stands on the corner of Picardy Place, the street in which he was born. Why not pop in and raise a toast? Better still, log into LibrarySearch and discover his many stories, and the films, for yourself:

https://napier.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=44NAP_INST:44NAP_ALMA_VU1

Photo source Sandip Roy

 

By Lesley McRobb

Have a love for reading about authors, you can read about Charles Dickens 

 

ball pen writing

Aye Write

15/05/2023 / / 0 Comments

Aye Write!

It’s not often we give a shout-out to our west coast cousins, but this month we want to sing Glasgow’s praises high. Congratulations to the 2023 Aye Write festival for arranging a cracking programme of events.

https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/arts-music-and-cultural-venues/aye-write-glasgows-book-festival

What is Aye Write!

Founded in 2005, this literary festival has gone from strength to strength, and this year 175 international authors are participating in more than 120 events between 19th and 27th May, with a spinoff Wee Write festival on 3rd June for the little ones in our lives.

They’ll be speaking on topics as diverse as fiction, climate and the environment, music, politics, health issues, social activism and my own personal favourite subject – food.

There are also creative writing classes available if you fancy yourself as a budding novelist or poet. And there will be musical entertainment too, as well as an open mic poetry session.  With so many different events, there is bound to be something to appeal to anyone interested in reading, writing, and engaging with the cultural and social worlds around them.

Aye Write Festival

The festival has always been housed in the impressive Mitchell Library – a good enough reason in itself to visit Glasgow.  And this year the festival organisers have added the Royal Concert Hall as a bonus venue.

https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/libraries/venues/the-mitchell-library

https://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com/glasgow-royal-concert-hall/Pages/default.aspx

 

We, of course, are unbiased in our support of the festival, so we don’t want to pick out particular events or authors. Oh, all right. We can’t resist highlighting one event from the Wee Write festival. It’s never too early to get wee ones into reading and books. Indiana Bones is a magical talking dog! He’s on a perilous adventure and sounds like a very clever boy.

https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/event/1/harry-heape-indiana-bones-and-the-invisible-city

By Lesley McRobb

You can read more about writing posts 

Photo source Aaron Burden

Winter and Christmas in Edinburgh

20/12/2022 / / 0 Comments

Glossary: 

Dreich – tedious; damp and wet (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-50476008) 

Hogmanay – New Year’s Eve (in Scotland) 

 

If it’s your first Winter in Edinburgh: you’re in for a treat! Edinburgh tends to get crisp and cold between December and February (ok, sometimes wet, and dreich too…) but there’s plenty going on and our city is buzzing over Christmas and the New Year. 

Winter Walks 

If you’re willing to wrap up warm, why not take a walk around Arthur’s seat? Arthur’s seat is an extinct volcano in the centre of Edinburgh, near to coffee shops on the Royal Mile if you need a gingerbread latte to warm up afterwards. 

Another lovely place to go in the frost or snow is Dalkeith country park – there are festive events on too! There are many trails to walk in this beautiful park, set over 1,000 acres. The park has a rich history, having been in the Buccleuch family for over 300 years. The site dates back to the Roman times. 

Another option is to head up Calton hill for a panoramic view of the city lit up in full Christmas mode – it’s not a difficult walk up the steps. You can also see the National Monument and Nelson monument. This is a popular spot on Hogmanay to take in the fireworks too. 

 

Calton Hill in the snow

Calton Hill in the snow

Picture Credit: Pixabay 

 

 

 

A little further afield but worth a trip is the lovely Roslin Glen. You can see the ruin of what was once Scotland’s largest gunpowder mill. You can also see the impressive and partly ruined Roslin Castle. A short walk through the glen takes you to the famous Rosslyn Chapel, founded in 1446 by Sir William St Clair. In the New Year, you might see the snowdrops starting to come out in the Glen. 

Finally, another bracing walk in the wintertime is a walk along the promenade at Cramond. If you so desire, you can walk from Silverknowes along to Cramond and if you’re feeling adventurous and have checked the tide times , you can walk over to Cramond island. According to the Cramond Association, Cramond is the oldest known site of human habitation in Scotland. 

Christmas Lights 

If you’re looking to soak up some festive illuminations, there are a number of options in Edinburgh! 

In the city centre, the Christmas Market lights up Princes Street Gardens with an Ice rink, big wheel and Christmas tree maze – https://showcatcher.com/edwinterfest/christmas.  

At the west end of Princes Street garden, you’ll find Santaland, with a festive family funfair. 

George Street also boasts Christmas lights and an enormous Christmas tree which can be seen at the top of the mound – apparently this tree has a history, and is a gift from Norway each year. This tradition dates back to WW2. 

Looking for more lights? The Botanic Gardens hosts a light trail each year, which is pretty spectacular, and you couldn’t ask for a nicer backdrop. Have a look at Christmas at the Botanics for more information. 

Another light spectacular to take in this winter is Edinburgh Castle’s ‘Castle of Light’. This involves projecting light onto the castle’s walls and ramparts and a historical walking tour. 

 

Last but not least, Edinburgh is well known for its Hogmanay celebrations, and in 2022 Edinburgh will host its giant street party once again. For the uninitiated, Hogmanay is the Scottish word for New Year’s Eve. 

The celebrations also include live music and a huge fireworks display at midnight. Lots of kissing, hugging, and dancing ensues! 

Looking for something quieter? 

If you’re looking for a cosy corner to curl up in when it’s cold and snowy, come to one of our campus libraries. You can check our festive opening hours here. 

You can borrow Library items from Friday 9 December 2022, and you won’t need to return them before Monday 16 January 2023. Full details can be found here. 

Remember, we’re always here online too – you can continue to access ebooks, ejournals and databases using  LibrarySearch, even if physical libraries are closed. 

 

By Judy Wheeler

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