Category: Scotland

Mary Queen of Scots…


…got ‘er ‘ead chopped OFF!

Well, she did in my childhood, while I viciously beheaded poor, innocent dandelions!

And yesterday, the Scottish Government presented a copy of the Death Warrant for Mary to the Blairs Museum in Aberdeen, while the original will stay in Lambeth Palace in London.

Hmmm….maybe time to do a little touristy sightseeing during my next trip in January?

Image source

JLSS Survey

I went to look at the news on the JLSS site, and decided I’d agree to take part in the survey – I thought I might be able to give some feedback about the removal of the Library / research area, and why it should be redesigned. After all, it did say “We would greatly appreciate it if you could complete a short survey to help us improve the Journal website. Click here to have your say”…

Instead, I got presented with the most random of surveys:

Erm…hello?
Exactly what has my home ownership status, and my hot beverage choice got to do with the website redesign, and the missing Library usefulness?!?

Is someone there taking the pee? Were they scrambling to find a way to fill up SurveyMonkeys default setting of 10 questions, and threw in the tea/coffee option?

Come on JLSS, you did an otherwise great redesign of the website (we’re ignoring the Library ‘thing’ for just now), can you please not let it all down at the end with a silly, unfocussed survey?!

The elusive Scots law basics course?

I think that (thanks to the Scottish Legal Newsletter) I may have found the training course I’ve been looking for!

“An introduction to law in contemporary Scotland” from the Open University looks like it’ll cover the basics well enough…it might not go into the further depth I’d like, but it’s a pretty good start!

This course looks at law making in contemporary Scotland and introduces you to some specific areas of Scots law including the law relating to employment and to children. It considers the role of both the Scottish Parliament and Courts in law making. The course will be of particular interest to anyone who wants an overview of how the legal system in Scotland operates and will provide an excellent beginning to students who want to understand how modern Scotland works.

Law and printing in Scotland – an exhibition



I was asked to email this out to members of the SLLG last week, and thought it was interesting enough to share:


The Advocates Library’s exhibition highlighting the link between the Scottish printing trade and the practice of law in Scotland will be on show in Parliament Hall, Edinburgh, from 11 August until 27 September 2008, Monday to Friday, 9am until 4.30pm. 
With the kind permission of the Lord President, the exhibition will be open to the public and will form part of the Scottish Courts programme of events in Parliament House for Doors Open Day, 27th September 2008. 
Examples from the library’s unique 18th century collections of printed Session Papers will be displayed in addition to other items from the Library’s extensive collections.  Session Papers are documents used in the presentation of cases in the Court of Session, Scotland’s supreme civil court.  The papers often include non-legal documentary exhibits such as drawings, plans and maps.  As such, the papers give a valuable insight into the social, economic, political and legal history of Scotland, during the period of the Scottish Enlightenment, many of the notable figures of which were advocates, like James Boswell and Walter Scott.
Early collections of Scottish Acts and laws from the time of the first Scottish parliament illustrate the importance of printing to the practice of law. 
The Advocates Library, inaugurated in 1689, had the right of legal deposit until the formation of the National Library of Scotland in 1925.  At that time, the Faculty of Advocates donated its non-legal collections to the nation.  This long history and their close connection with the courts meant that advocates and the Advocates Library provided much work for the printing industry.  The exhibition highlights the closeness of this link, telling the story of Thomas Ruddiman who was Keeper of the Advocates Library and a printer.

Any parties of over 20 people wishing to view the exhibition should arrange their visit in advance with Andrea Longson, Senior Librarian, Tel. 0131 260 5637, email andrea.longson AT advocates.org.uk.