Rhona Brown

A poster that reads: 'Did you know there is no legal requirement for secondary schools in Scotland to have a school library? We need to change that story.'

A list of library benefits.

A poster with the copy: 'You can help to change the story. Call on your MP and MSPs to make it a legal requirement for secondary schools to have a library staffed by a school librarian.'

📚 Every secondary school pupil in Scotland deserves access to a school library but right now, there's no law to protect them.

Write to your MSP today and tell them that school libraries shouldn't be a luxury.

www.scottishbooktrust.com/our-research...

Kang-Yen Chiu received the 2025 Jack Medal for his chapter 'Translation and Film Adaptation of Ivanhoe in the Modern History of Taiwan,’ published in 'Scotland and China: Literary Encounters' (@scroll-scotlit.bsky.social, @degruyterbrill.bsky.social, 2025). Read the statement: tinyurl.com/255n2rm6

YouTube video by Alasdair Gray Archive Lanark Book Three Chapter One - Ann Dinh

First of five new animations for Gray Day 2026 ✨ Ann Dinh responds to the new Lanark audiobook by Alasdair Gray, narrated by Alan Cumming, commissioned by The Alasdair Gray Archive & @canongate.co.uk. Screened at Òran Mór.

VINCENT LUNARDI, IN HIS BASKET, READY TO ASCEND, "The celebrated aeronaut visited Scotland in the month of September 1785. His first ascent took place at Edinburgh, on the 5th of October following, from Heriot’s Hospital Green." --- A series of original portraits and caricature etchings by John Kay (1742-1826). p. 79

VINCENT LUNARDI, IN HIS BASKET, READY TO ASCEND

"The celebrated aeronaut visited Scotland in the month of September 1785. His first ascent took place at Edinburgh, on the 5th of October following, from Heriot’s Hospital Green."
#Scotland

Edward Gorey

#illustration #EdwardGorey #books

📆 OTD in 1875 Mary Barbour was Born

🗣️ “We should be daring in our demands, not only for better houses but for a higher standard of living generally.”

(1st pic: Protests & Suffragettes Mural on Crossloan Rd & Uist Street— Mary Barbour & Isabella Elder)

Printed copy of "The Ancient Town of Leith", "A New Poem by Sir William Topaz McDonagall, Knight of the White Elephant, Burmah. No 21 Lothian Street, Edinburgh. VR. Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Composed May 1899". It is an original on yellowed paper, signed in pen by the author.

Look I know there's a lot of *waves hand* going on right now, but it's come to my attention that William "Worst Poet Ever" McGonagall composed in 1899 an elegy to "The Ancient Town of Leith" in his own, inimitable style. So if you care to gather round, I shall now retell it for the whole class 🧵🗣️🪑

John Kay’s ‘A Series of Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings’ The 21st of February will mark 200 years since the death of John Kay, a Scottish caricaturist and engraver. On Capital Collections we have a new exhibition showcasing around 360 of his portraits an…

21 February will mark 200 years since the death of John Kay, the renowned Scottish caricaturist and engraver. Read our blog post to find out more about his life and a new Capital Collections exhibition showcasing around 360 of his portraits and caricatures - zurl.co/Hq5ZS

Promotional graphic for Scottish Universities Press's journal publishing programme inviting journal proposals.

Following the success of our book publishing offer we are preparing to launch our journal publishing programme.

We are now accepting expressions of interest from editors of existing journals. All subjects will be considered.

For more information: www.sup.ac.uk/news/introducing-journal-publishing

A poster advertising a PG symposium for Scottish Literature

CFP: 2026 Scottish Literature PG Symposium

(Mis)placing Scottish Literature
8 May 2026, University of Glasgow

Details: ucsl-scotland.com/2026-pg-symp...
Deadline 15 March, student travel bursaries available!

Announcement for the launch of a journal publishing programme by Scottish Universities Press with a scenic mountain background.

Following the success of our book publishing offer we are preparing to launch our journal publishing programme.

We are now accepting expressions of interest from editors of existing journals. As a cross-disciplinary publisher, all subjects will be considered.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3LSvLfx

The wonderful @scotunipress.bsky.social has some vacancies on the Editorial Board, which I chair - if you care about Open Access scholarship, academic accessibility and not-for-profit academic publishing, come and join us. T&Cs, details and processes 👇

#OpenAccess

Book cover THE HOUSE WITH THE GREEN SHUTTERS Cover image: A small window in a pale cream-coloured wall, with green shutters. One is half open, but we can only see darkness inside. In the foreground, a red-headed postman in a blue uniform, his eyes and mouth wide open in shock and horror, whirls away from the window, his body twisting as he turns and flees from what he has seen within.

George Douglas Brown (1869–1902) was born #OTD, 26 January – best known for his 1901 novel THE HOUSE WITH THE GREEN SHUTTERS:

“…the TRAINSPOTTING of its day… an angry young man’s response to the misrepresentation of contemporary Scottish life”

A 🎂 🧵
💙📚
1/7
list.co.uk/news/39535/g...

Last letter by Mary Queen of Scots to go on display at free exhibition this weekend

A letter written by Mary Queen of Scots just hours before her execution in 1587 has gone on display for the first time in nearly a decade

Finally, recognition for 'unfairly neglected' Scottish author Agnes Owens Writer Agnes Owens was once seen as “part of a golden age of Scottish literature,” and influenced younger writers, including Janice Galloway,…

It's the centenary of the wonderful Agnes Owens' birth this year. Her books are being reissued & a satellite archive has officially opened within the Alasdair Gray archive. I spoke to her son, John, & wrote about this "most unfairly neglected of Scottish authors" in the @heraldscotland.bsky.social.

Book chapter titled '"Now iudge Englischmen if it be gud to change Quenis": Constructing English National Identity in Elizabethan Propaganda Against Mary Queen of Scots'

Excited to say I have a new book chapter out in 'Nationalism and Royal Women in Early Modern England', part of the Queenship and Power series from Palgrave Macmillan. My chapter explores the anti-Scottish nature of Elizabethan propaganda on Mary Queen of Scots.

Read it here: doi.org/10.1007/978-...

BBC Radio 4 - Archive on 4, Ivor Cutler at 90 A celebration of the 90th anniversary of poet, humourist and absurdist Ivor Cutler.

“I have a harmonium and it’s going to explode in two minutes”

Ivor Cutler (1923–2006) – poet, singer, musician, songwriter, artist, humorist – was born #OTD, 15 Jan

In 2013, to mark what would have been his 90th birthday, BBC Radio 4 celebrated his life & career:
1/7
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...

Job Vacancy: Research Fellow, 1660-1832 House of Lords - The History of Parliament The History of Parliament are excited to advertise for a research fellow to join our House of Lords 1660-1832 project.

📣 We’re hiring!
The History of Parliament are seeking a Research Fellow for our House of Lords 1660-1832 project. @georgianlords.bsky.social

We’re looking for a historian with a PhD in 18thC British political or cultural history to join our expert team.

🔗 Details below:
#AcademicJobs #HistoryJobs

His Faither’s Breeks, 1840s, photo by David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson.

Polygon to Publish New Editions of the Works of Agnes Owens to Mark Centenary | Birlinn Ltd - Independent Scottish Publisher - buy books online

Exciting announcement from Birlinn today - we are proud to be collaborating with them and @agnesowenslitest.bsky.social on centenary plans across 2026 and to bringing Agnes Owens work to a wider audience 💫

Mary, Queen of Scots’ last letter is going on display in 2026 – five interesting facts about her other writing Mary was a prolific writer who enjoyed producing poetry.

To celebrate the imminent exhibition of Mary Queen of Scots' last letter at Perth Museum, I wrote an article for @uk.theconversation.com about my PhD research into Mary's writing - have a read for my top 5 things you should know! ⬇️

theconversation.com/mary-queen-o...

Brilliant stuff, Emily!

I think that would be me too!

🚨 Follow this new podcast - hosted by the brilliant @paulmalgrati.bsky.social - for all things Scottish literature and culture. As Paul says, 'The Carrying Stream is a place for long conversations', giving welcome breathing space for discussion and interaction. It's sure to be a treat! 🚨🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿📚

✨Happy Hogmanay to all our pals on 🦋✨

As we welcome 2026, we’re remembering the women who boycotted the 1911 Census — refusing to be counted without rights.

Here’s to a year of making women’s histories visible, valued, and everywhere ✊💜

#Hogmanay #WomensHistory #Herstories #Scotland

14th century painting of St. Margaret of Antioch attacking a devil woman in a virid dress hitting a demon with a hammer

Just making sure that 2025 is definitely over

BBC Arts - BBC Arts - Alasdair Gray at 80: Under the Helmet Archive documentary from 1964 on the influential Scottish artist and writer.

“I am a chorus in search of a tragedy, a raker of middens in the industrial North.
“I am a genius in an obscure line of business. Try me a little.
“I may have something you can use.”

The artist & writer Alasdair Gray (1934–2019) was born #OTD, 28 Dec
💙📚
1/5
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/a...

Edwin Muir alert, @ginorgym.bsky.social! 🎄

This one looks more realistic than some others, Dee! Let’s catch up in the new year x

Very kind, Murray! ☺️