Ways to give

There are many ways and levels at which you can support the Library — with a one-off or regular donation or in one of the following ways.

The National Library of Scotland's Patrons and Benefactors programme brings together like-minded individuals who treasure the Library's collections and ambitions. Drawn from many different countries, they all share a lively interest in Scotland's cultural heritage.

Their support goes to the very heart of the Library's mission — investing in the nation's conservators, scholars and story-tellers and ensuring our world-class collections can be discovered and explored by a global audience.

If you would like to enjoy a close and more personal association with the National Library's collections and activities please consider joining our community of Patrons and Benefactors.

Become a Patron

Single Patron donation options:

• £250 annual support ('single payment')
• £21 per month

Joint Patron donation options:

• £400 annual support ('single payment')
• £34 per month

Patronage: donate by single payment

Patronage: donate by monthly instalments

Become a Benefactor

Single Benefactor donation options:

• £750 annual support ('single payment')
• £63 per month

Joint Benefactor donation options:

• £1,000 annual support ('single payment')
• £84 per month

Benefactor: donate by single payment

Benefactor: donate by monthly instalments

If you would like to join the Library community as a Patron or Benefactor, please get in touch.

The American Patrons of the National Library and Galleries of Scotland (APNLGS) celebrates and strengthens the close cultural ties between Scotland and North America.

By becoming a patron you will be supporting the wide variety of exhibitions and displays, acquisitions, education programs and research undertaken at the National Library and the National Galleries.

• American Patrons brochure (PDF) (537 KB; 8 pages)
• Application form (PDF) (40 KB; 2 pages)

Growing the national collection is a huge part of our work. The majority of the 180,000 physical items housed at the Library annually come through Legal Deposit channels. In addition, we acquire books, pamphlets, manuscripts, maps, or even entire collections, which for some reason or other are not currently present in our collections.

Sometimes that comes at a cost. Our printed heritage is valued not only by us, but also by international private collectors, higher education institutions and partner culture organisations. We are more often being challenged to compete, and produce the requisite funds at short notice, to secure these items for the national collections.

The Acquisitions Circle is a group of supporters who understand the value of acquisitions to the Library, the costs involved and the difficulties institutions like ours can have when competing with private collectors. They enable us to raise money quickly in response to auctions or items coming up for sale.

Read more about the Acquisitions Circle (1.1 MB, 4 pages) or contact us at development@nls.uk to find out more.

You might wish to consider longer-term benefit to us through remembering the Library in your will.

Before you take any action, please contact us to discuss your wishes. You might consider completing the legacy pledge form we can give you, which can help us in our forward planning.

If you decide to leave a financial bequest to the Library, we advise that you consult your lawyer about writing or re-drafting your will.

Thank you for your support.