National Library goes big on rules

A new artwork by acclaimed artist Peter Liversidge, ‘The Rules of the Library’ (2025), has been installed in the National Library’s reading rooms in Edinburgh. The work – which is now on show – contains 19 rules collected and recontextualised by Liversidge from a wide range of sources, including the Library’s own extensive collections. 

Created during an eight-month research residency during the National Library’s centenary year, ‘The Rules of the Library’ celebrates the enduring cultural and civic importance of libraries. The work on display is a billboard-scale reproduction of the original, typed by Liversidge on a manual typewriter. 

Liversidge says: “The Library’s collections provide a direct physical line to a time or place, fostering an idea or presenting a way of thinking that is at once instantly accessible and profound.” 

Some of the selected rules were originally written for libraries, while others come from unexpected settings. 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. 

Martha Burns Findlay, Head of Public Programmes, says: “Peter’s work invites us to reflect on the value of libraries, and the rational, beautiful, and sometimes frustrating rules that make these spaces so unique and vital within society. As we mark our centenary, this project celebrates the Library not only as a place of preservation, but as a living, evolving site of creativity, curiosity, and interaction.” 

Alongside the artwork, visitors can explore a curated selection of materials from the artist’s project archive. This includes handwritten notes, document excerpts, research photographs, and ‘The Proposal’ – a typed articulation of both realised and unrealised ideas for the project. Once complete, the full project archive will be accessioned into the Library’s permanent collections. Copies of ‘The Rules of the Library’ will also be distributed to libraries across Scotland, allowing each institution to reinterpret the work within its own setting. 

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. 

About Peter Liversidge 

Peter Liversidge is known internationally for his conceptual practice centred on proposals – typed, often poetic invitations for performances and artworks that rely on the viewer’s imagination and participation. His work is grounded in close engagement with the communities and contexts in which it is created. 

Liversidge has exhibited widely, including at The Whitechapel Gallery (2015), Tate Modern (2016), Bonniers Konsthall, Stockholm (2019), Jupiter Artland, Edinburgh (2020), and the National Gallery of Art, Washington (2022). ‘The Rules of the Library’ forms part of his ongoing global series recontextualising rules, which includes ‘Rules for Iceland’ (2014) and ‘The Rules for Archivorum’ (2025). 

He is represented by Ingleby Gallery (Edinburgh), Kate McGarry (London), and Sean Kelly (New York). 

The work is now on display at the National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh. To find out more, please visit the National Library’s website.