The Rules of the Library is a new artwork by acclaimed artist Peter Liversidge. The work presents a set of nineteen rules which have been collected and recontextualised by Liversidge from a wide range of sources, including the Library's own extensive collections. Presented as a single list, the work reframes these instructions, prompting visitors to consider how rules shape our encounters with knowledge and public space. Through this playful yet thoughtful juxtaposition, Liversidge explores the Library's balance between open access and the responsibility to preserve archives for future generations. The artwork is accompanied by reading materials and a project archive for you to explore in the Library's historic General Reading Room.
This project has been made possible through the generous support of Bill Zachs, Mike Lampert, and the American Patrons of the National Library and Galleries of Scotland.