Advocates' Library. This library, which belongs to the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh, was established by Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, the then Dean of Faculty, in 1682, in a house leased for the purpose. In 1684 the first librarian was appointed, his salary in 1686 being fixed at 400 marks per annum. In 1700 the collection narrowly escaped destruction by fire, after which it was removed from the Parliament Close to the ground-floor of the Parliament House, which it still occupies. By the first Copyright Act passed in 1709, the privilege of receiving a copy of every book entered at Stationers' Hall was conferred on the Advocates' Library along with eight (afterwards ten) other libraries, four of which were attached to the Scottish universities. The four university libraries surrendered or were deprived of their privilege in 1836-7, receiving compensation. The privilege is still retained by the Advocates' Library. The number of volumes in the library in 1692 was 3140; in 1899 it was computed at about 350,000. The MSS. number some 3000 volumes, and relate principally to the civil and ecclesiastical history of Scotland, to genealogy and heraldry, together with poetry, bibles, prayer-books, liturgies, and copies of the Latin and Greek classics. Catalogues of the library have been compiled and printed from time to time; that begun in 1853 and finished in 1879 is a complete list of all printed books in the library at the end of 1871.
Although the library belongs strictly to the Faculty of Advocates, it is open, without introduction, to all engaged in literary work; and the administration is so liberal that it is for all practical purposes the Public Library of Scotland. The management is by a Keeper and staff of assistants, working under a board of six curators. Of those who have held the office of keeper of the library, mention may be made of Thomas Ruddiman, David Hume, Adam Ferguson, and Samuel Halkett.