From the archives: New national library; 11 July 1950

Published on 11/07/2012 02:11

THE new National Library of Scotland building in Edinburgh is likely to be finished late in 1954 or early in 1955.

These were the dates that had been given them, said the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, when he presided at a meeting of the Board of Trustees in Parliament House. It was 25 years since the Faculty of Advocates handed over to the nation their world-famous library, he said. It was 22 years since that princely gift was matched by Sir Alexander Grant in supplying money for a building worthy 
of that great library, and 
worthy of Scotland. “The 
skeleton of that building has
too long remained,” added 
Lord Crawford. “But viewed as a commentary of the way our lords and masters accept a most generous and famous gift, I hope it may not be considered as a symbol of the way they treat, or wish to treat, all questions of scholarship of mind, research, and art.” 
• archive.scotsman.com