We’ll guide you through the basics and show you how to navigate Ancestry and British Newspaper Archive, two brilliant resources for family history and both free to use in all Edinburgh Libraries. The session ends with a short tour of the physical genealogical resources held in the Edinburgh and Scottish Collection.
Too many families in Scotland face hunger due to a lack of income.
Join us & the Scottish Food Coalition on 8 April for Scotland’s National Food Debate. Hear how political parties will act to ensure everyone has dignified access to food.
We invite you to take part in Scotland’s flagship ‘National Food Debate’ ahead of the 2026 Scottish Elections.
With the publication of Scotland’s first National Good Food Nation Plan, continued pressure on household budgets, significant public health challenges and a farming sector under severe strain, food policy has become a defining issue for this election.
This pre-election hustings will see party representatives answer questions from a live audience from Augustine United Church in central Edinburgh and will be broadcast online to members of the public across Scotland. The session will be a mixture of pre-selected questions and questions from the audience on the night.
The debate, chaired by Vicky Allan, Environment Correspondent for The Herald, will reach a highly engaged audience of voters, civil society leaders and food-system stakeholders in Scotland, with significant online reach beyond the room.
Who we are:
The Scottish Food Coalition is a diverse alliance of 70+ organisations working for a just transition to a fair, healthy, sustainable food system.
Our members come from across the food system including those concerned with poverty, health, biodiversity, climate change and animal welfare, as well as trade unions, food producers and retailers, international development organisations and faith groups.
Established in 2015, we were instrumental in securing Scotland’s Good Food Nation Act and offer support and expertise to Scottish Government, local authorities and health boards during the journey to achieve our Good Food Nation ambitions.
Central Library has announced a new season of Music on the Mezzanine, offering free live performances every fortnight and showcasing a mix of returning favourites and exciting new acts.
The programme features ten concerts, including the return of much-loved performers such as the Edinburgh Recorder Orchestra, Simmerdim and Vonodh Jayakrishnan, alongside first-time appearances from artists including Zonos and Moonlighting Flutes.
Audiences can enjoy a wide range of styles, from folk, classical and South Indian music to electronic soundscapes and Celtic-inspired jazz.
Highlights include violin and flute duo Luis Flores Carrubio and Ailsa Thompson on 14 February, a trio of young Scottish musicians on 28 February, percussionist and composer Valerie Thibault on 28 March, and a closing performance by the Composers Orchestra on 20 June.
Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: “Music on the Mezzanine has become a valued part of our cultural programme, bringing quality, accessible live music into the heart of the library.
“We’re delighted to welcome audiences back for another inspiring series of concerts. This season reflects the diversity, creativity, and talent of our musicians, and there truly is something for everyone to enjoy.”
Music on the Mezzanine concerts take place at 1pm every fortnight at Central Library. Tickets can be booked here.
Our new exhibition on the Mezzanine, Books as Art, opens this Saturday 3rd January, our first day of services in 2026.
This exhibition presents a selection of artists’ books from the Art & Design Library, revealing the remarkable range and freedom of a form that continues to challenge how we see, read, and move through the world.
Bringing together works from Britain and abroad, the exhibition traces the many ways artists use the book as a site of exploration—from walking, observing, and documenting the everyday, to testing the boundaries between text and image, material and message, intimacy and public voice.
We’ll guide you through the basics and show you how to navigate Ancestry and British Newspaper Archive, two brilliant resources for family history and both free to use in all Edinburgh Libraries.
The session ends with a short tour of the physical genealogical resources held in the Edinburgh and Scottish Collection.
The next session is on Thursday 30 October at 2pm.
HILLSIDE ART GROUP’s EXHIBTION RUNS UNTIL 31st OCTOBER
Hello friends,
I’m letting you know that our art group’s new exhibition, TOUCH WOODS, is in the last week
Thursday 2nd – Friday 31st October 2025
Art & Design Department, Central Library, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh.
This time we’ve been exploring the theme of the forest. The works include paintings, clay footprints, sculptures, and imaginative tactile pieces. Visitors are welcome to touch and experience the art — something that is especially important to us as visually impaired artists.
It would mean a lot if you could come along, spread the word, or even bring a friend.
We have a selection of fridge magnets that are availible for donation and all proceeds will go to our materials fund.
Join us for a Family History Fair at Central Library on Friday 24 October 2025, between 10am and 4pm!
Come along to talk to experts from the following organisations who will be on hand to introduce their collections and answer questions about using materials to search for missing details in your family history.
There will also be a series of presentations held throughout the day. Both the day and talks are free to attend, but the talks should be booked in advance via TicketSource.
Thursday 2nd – Friday 31st October 2025
Art & Design Department, Central Library, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh.
Hillside Art Group facebook page – 
