Members of Faculty have access to an unrivalled professional resource in the Library’s extensive range of materials in print and electronic format, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Collections are also maintained in the High Court buildings in Edinburgh and Glasgow and at the Supreme Court in London.

Non members can access the majority of library stock through the National Library of Scotland. While Members of Faculty do have priority on the use of Advocates Library items, every effort is made to ensure that items reach the National Library of Scotland as quickly as possible. The relationship between the Faculty of Advocates and the National Library of Scotland is expressed in two memoranda of agreement, one on general service and the other on ownership .

The Faculty also owns Sir Walter Scott's books at Abbotsford. Although this is mainly a conservation library, access for researchers to specific items is encouraged, with consultation facilities kindly provided at the National Library of Scotland. An Access Protocol is used to guide decisions on access to the collection. Applications for access to specific items should be made to the Senior Librarian, Andrea Longson.

For further details about the Abbotsford Library and other special collections click here.