Behind the Scenes Tour: Doors Open Day at Central Library

Find our more about the history of Central Library and get a chance to see behind the scenes.Have you ever wondered where we go when we need to fetch you a book? Or how we get up to the gallery in the Reference Library? And what happens on the floors on the way down to the Cowgate level? On Doors Open Day 2026 come and see what Central Library is like out of view of the public areas.

We'll also tell you a bit of our building's amazing history.

We've got two tours to choose from, one starts at 10:30am and the other at 2:00pm.

Places are limited to 12 so book quickly to avoid disappointment!Because our lovely building is over 130 years old, and our lift is very limited in size and reach, please be prepared for using a lot of stairs during the tour.

The tour will cover areas all the way from the Art and Design Library to the basement, and finish up at the Cowgate level.

We expect your visit to last around 90 minutes.