National Library of Scotland at Kelvin Hall

Some of our material is only available on Library premises. There is film and video content that can only be viewed at Kelvin Hall such as vintage films from Grampian Television and Scottish Television.

You can access our growing digital collections on computers in our research zone.

You can explore the richness of 20th-century Scottish life through printed items, film clips, and objects. Get up close to objects from the history of film-making and cinema-going in Scotland. There are film strips, film reels and cans, posters and even an Oscar (presented for the award-winning film 'Seawards the Great Ships').

Our 12-screen video wall gives you a visual introduction to the Library, and help you explore subjects of interest, from industry to entertainment.

In addition to thousands of films, the Moving Image Archive also has a written archives and reference collection. This includes records, posters, programmes, scripts, and photos as well as reference books. Please note, you cannot take photos of these archives.

Make an appointment

You'll need an appointment to come in and look at the Moving Image Archive paper archive. Email movingimage@nls.uk or phone 0141 880 2329 to arrange it.

To use this part of the collection, you also need to join the Library. If you do not have a Library log in, our staff can take you through the registration process when you visit.

We offer specially designed facilities for viewing films in a range of analogue and digital formats. This can support broadcast work and film research.

The rooms are various sizes to accommodate different groups. They have multi-screens for professional viewing of a range of formats including Blu-ray, DVD, VHS and Digibeta.

Book a room

Email movingimage@nls.uk or phone 0141 880 2329 to book one of our viewing rooms.

We have six touchscreen units with headphones.

Our interactive touch screens have a range of themed video packages for you to view. Specially compiled by community groups, external experts and our own curators, these packages bring together some of the best films from the archive. Packages include sound recordings as well as moving images.

There is a cafe within the Kelvin Hall building run by Glasgow Life. It is on the left hand side as you enter.

The cafe serves breakfast, lunch, cakes, cold drinks, and coffee for both sitting in or taking away. The cafe has tables and booths.

Bus

First bus services 2, 3, and 77 stop outside Kelvin Hall.

Train

Partick is the nearest train station and it is about 20 minutes walk from there.

Subway

Kelvinhall is the nearest subway station and is about 10 minutes walk away.

Bike

There is bicycle parking at the front of the building. Kelvin Hall is opposite Kelvingrove Park which forms part of the Kelvin Walkway.

Car

Kelvin Hall is about 6 minutes drive from the M8. Paid parking is available at the Burnhouse Road car park. This car park also has facilities for electric car charging as part of the ChargePlace Scotland network.

There are spaces for blue badge holders on Bunhouse road and on street parking, where standard charges apply.

For more information visit Glasgow Life.

There are two accessible toilets located off the main corridor.

There are changing facilities to the left of the reception desk.

There are standard toilets on the main corridor on the ground floor.

There are lockers in the Access Centre. They are 45 x 40cm. You don't need a coin to access them.

WiFi

Free WiFi is available in Kelvin Hall.

eduroam

If you are visiting from another organisation that uses eduroam, you will be able to use it at the National Library of Scotland too. More information about eduroam

There is a parent and baby room near the reception.

Kelvin Hall has unisex, accessible toilets along 'the avenue' - the corridor that leads from the building's main entrance to the National Library of Scotland. There are two accessible toilets. One is near the door to the Library. This is rear-right hand transfer.

This information is from AccessAble. See the AccessAble website for more detailed information such as dimensions and photos.

There is a parent and baby room near the reception.

• Within this room there is a drop down baby changing table which is 90cm high.
• The room is 290cm x 290cm.
• There is a sink which is 83cm high.

Main entrance 

There is a ramped entrance from the street to the door of the building and then a further ramp leading to reception. The ramp to the reception does not have handrails.

The Library is on the ground floor of the building, approximately 100m from the main entrance.

Library entrance

The entrance is level. The double doors are both open when the centre is open to the public. The width of the door opening is 135cm (4ft 5in). 

There are no stairs or ramps along the corridor to get to the Library.

There is no induction loop in the Access Centre. In two of the rooms we have a built in infrared hearing assistance system.  We are able to supply a receiver which can be used with a hearing aid.

Our fire alarms have no flashing lights, just noise.

Three of our computers have ZoomText computer software which provides a screen reader, magnifier, and echoes your typing. 

We also have Humanware SmartView SI in the Binks Room where we consult the paper archives.

The lighting levels in this area are medium.

Please contact a member of staff if you have visual impairment and would like help to leave the building during an emergency evacuation.

The Library at Kelvin Hall is fully accessible for wheelchair users and can cater for other access requirements.   

We have height adjustable tables and touchscreen monitors on height adjustable stands. 

Three computers have a large key keyboard, a track ball mouse, and ZoomText computer software which provides a screen reader, magnifier, and echoes your typing.

We have Humanware SmartView SI in the Binks Room where we consult the paper archives.

You can bring assistance dogs into the building and Access Centre.

There is on street car parking with bays allocated for blue-badge holders on Bunhouse Road accross from the Kelvin Hall main entrance. 

Drivers should always check on-street signage for any temporary closures, changes or updates. 

In the event of an evacuation, we would leave the building by our nearest exit, which is via the stairwell to the left as you re-enter the avenue from the access centre.

Our staff will lead the way and guide you down the stairs to the exit onto Bunhouse Road and to our muster point at the top of Bunhouse Road.

The building is fitted with Evacsafe Evacuation Chairs in each stair well that Kelvin Hall staff can assist with. There is also a refuge call point in each stairwell.