Edinburgh Family History Centre

The Scottish Genealogy Society Library and Research Centre is open to welcome members and visitors.

Library Holdings

Over the years the Society has built up a diverse, fascinating and unique collection of books and manuscripts including local histories, military, trades and profession lists, directories, Scots outwith Scotland, peerage and heraldry, school and university rolls and individual family histories [See  Family History Index]

The Library is now a Family Search Affiliate Library.  This gives visitors to our library access to Family Search digital genealogical collections.

The Library also has:

  • Internet access with World subscriptions to both Ancestry including Fold3 (online source for researching military records) and Findmypast.  Also a subscription to the British Newspaper Archive.

  • Monumental Inscriptions, burial, death and mortcloth records - the largest collection in Scotland

  • Old Parish Registers [OPRs] with the original in microfilm for every parish in Scotland

  • Over 4000 books and CDs on family history and related subjects

  • Censuses - a large collection of originals in microfilm

  • Journals from many Scottish family history societies and some from abroad


Visits to the Family History Centre and speakers to other groups


There is no need to book an appointment. Visitors will be required to sign in on arrival.

Your Ain Folk


The Scottish Genealogy Society (SCIO) will run research events for local history groups, church groups or other similar groups who would like to find out more about their ancestors and how to trace them. These events will be tailored to the group's requirements. Groups of up to 12 people can be easily accommodated. There will be a modest charge of £2 per head for those who are not members of the Society.

If you would like to arrange a visit with the guidance of volunteers please contact enquiries@scotsgenealogy.com


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The Scottish Genealogy Society (SCIO), Edinburgh's Family History Centre is open to members and non-members (all minors must be accompanied by an adult)


Winter Closing

Due to the extensive refurbishment work being carried out at the Scottish Genealogy Society (SCIO) library we will have to close the doors for a period of time on Health and Safety grounds.

The Library will close at the end of the day on Saturday 6th December 2025 and we hope to reopen end of January 2026 date to be confirmed.


Opening Times:
Mondays: 10.30am to 4.00pm
Tuesdays: 10.30am to 4.00pm
Wednesdays: 2.30pm to 7.00pm 
Thursdays: 10.30am to 4.00pm
Fridays: CLOSED
Saturdays: 10.00am to 2.00pm
Sundays: CLOSED