The Books behind the Botanists

The Library at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) holds Scotland’s national collection of botanical and horticultural literature, an unrivalled library compendium that relates to the work of the Garden throughout its 350 years of history.

The Library collections support and record the scientific, horticultural and educational work at the Garden and are used by historians and plant enthusiasts from all over the world, as well as supporting the Garden’s publications programme of plant-inspired books (available to buy via the RBGE online shop(this link will open in a new window)). The collection also supports the RBGE exhibitions programme: including the current Connecting Histories exhibition in the John Hope Gateway Gallery, which brings together works from the Library’s collection of Indian botanical art.

Lorna Mitchell, Librarian, will conduct us in small groups round the facility, which is accessible by public transport and has a lift for those with reduced mobility. This visit will be of interest to garden lovers and book enthusiasts alike.It will complement the talks from Sara Sheridan and the RBGE’s own Kirsty Wilson at this year’s Pentlands Book Festival.

Numbers are strictly limited, so please reserve your place with Liz Beevers on 0131 453 4115(this link will open in a new window).