Transcription projects

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New (Jan 2024). Woodland in Scotland map viewer, 1840s-1880s

Woodland in Scotland, 1840s-1880s graphic

The Library has recently partnered with the nature regeneration platform, Zulu Ecosystems, who have extracted a digital layer showing woodland from the mid-19th century Ordnance Survey maps. The depiction of woodland on these OS Six-Inch to the mile maps (1843-1882) is one of the most comprehensive records of ancient woodland in Scotland. It is hoped that the development and donation of this open access layer will contribute towards the conservation and protection of ancient woodland in Scotland.

Due to the automated processes used to extract the layer, some revisions are still needed. We are inviting volunteers to easily record corrections they spot in the viewer.


decorative graphic illustrating this particular set of maps

Map Transcription Projects, 2022

From February - May 2022, we initiated a set of new collaborative projects to transcribe features and text from maps. We have gathered all of the placenames from the Roy Military Survey maps of Scotland (1747-55), traced footpaths from Ordnance Survey six-inch to the mile maps of Scotland (ca.1900s), and gathered text from Ordnance Survey 25 inch to the mile mapping of Edinburgh.

Map Transcriptions 2022 - event

Watch our closing event held on Tuesday 8 November 2022 at 17.00 which looked at the impact and value of these projects, and thanked everyone who helped. The event included a welcome from Amina Shah, National Librarian at NLS, and then from 8 speakers who each looked at the value of the transcription projects from different perspectives: