Poetry in social work

Find out how social workers are planning to use poetry in their practice.

William Neill

We are marking a hundred years since the birth of the poet William Neill with a special display, including a selection of items from our collection.

Balcony Readings 2022

Every August, the Scottish Poetry Library hosts The Balcony Readings: events at which anyone can turn up and read under the guidance of members of the School of Poets. The events are free, non-ticketed and relaxed affairs. No experience necessary.

New mini podcast espisodes

Take 10 minutes to meet the poems of Jay Whittaker or Daniel Sluman in our new Nothing But The Poem podcasts.

Lúibíní

Tha sinn toilichte a bhith a’ tòiseachadh le pròiseact bàrdachd ùir, a bheir cothrom do shianar bhàrd LGDTC+ obair a chruthachadh is a choileanadh le chèile.

Current library exhibition

See the greats of Scottish literature, re-imagined as the time-travelling rebels and free spirits their writing suggests of them.

Our Waking Breath

A Poem-letter from Scotland to Ukraine. Curated by Scotland's Makar Kathleen Jamie from public submissions.

Best Scottish Poems 2021

Our annual selection of outstanding poems written by Scottish poets and poets living in Scotland writing in English, Scots and Scottish Gaelic

A Woman’s A Woman

A special reworking by Scotland's Makar of Robert Burns’ poem for International Women’s Day, in support of the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Appeals in Ukraine and Afghanistan

Kin Kennings: 25 words for '25

Stirling Makar Laura Fyfe has written a blog about putting poetry and literature into the heart of Stirling's bid for City of Culture 2025.

Spiorad an àite / Spirit of Place

Spirit of Place is a journey of poetry, dance, film, music and language. A conversation between Ireland and Scotland following on the old routes of Saint Columba.

Anonymous wis a wumman

Ashley Douglas researched the absences and erasure of women’s voices from the early times of published poetry in Scotland. Ashley also looked at the misattribution and denial of same-sex women’s writing.

Burns Night: The Trysting Thorns

Creative responses by women to the life and work of Robert Burns

Makar helps launch the Year of Stories

Kathleen Jamie produced a film to support the launch of Scotland's Year of Stories

Black poets respond to climate change

We have commissioned new poetry from Black women poets in partnership with Africa in Motion Film Festival and Obsidian Foundation.

The People of Scotland's Nature Poem

Our national Makar has curated three new collective nature poems, 'The Life-breath Songs'