National library of Scotland is a relatively young institution. It was founded in 1925. The library is located in several buildings in the centre of Edinburgh, the main building is located on the George IV bridge. Another modern building built in the 1980-ies in the southern part of the city.

Before the official founding of the library functions of the national library with the right of legal Deposit was carried out by the library of the Collegium of advocates. It was founded in 1689 and received the status of the national library and the right of legal Deposit in 1710

By the beginning of XX century, the library had grown to become too large for a private organization, and the library was donated to the Scottish nation. A special parliamentary act in 1925, was the establishment of the national library of Scotland. Sir Alexander Grant donated two hundred thousand pounds on the library and the construction of a new building for her. Building started in 1938, but world war II prevented the construction and it was completed only in 1956. In the early 90's was built a new modern building in the southern part of Edinburgh, it includes the storage and reading rooms.

In the collection of the library contains many rare books and manuscripts: the Gutenberg Bible, cover letter of Charles Darwin that was attached to the manuscript of the origin of species", "First folio" is the first collection of Shakespeare's plays in folio, the last letter of Mary Queen of Scots. Also in the collection of the library a large collection of maps.