We begin with a feature on the Carnegie Libraries, an enduring legacy of philanthropic endeavour that provided communities across Scotland and beyond with access to books and learning. Rachel Bowen examines their architectural and social impact and ongoing community value. In a similar vein, Professor Fionn Stevenson considers the uncertain future of Arthurstone (Carnegie) Library in Dundee, highlighting the wider challenges faced by public libraries today.

Turning to conservation in practice, we mark 30 years of the Scottish Lime Centre Trust, an organisation set up in response to growing concern over the shortage of skills and understanding in the field of traditional building technology. Since then, many people and places have benefited from their expertise, although sadly, the need for suitably trained and qualified tradespeople remains acute.

Next, Will Purdie explores the reinvention of Perth City Halls as Perth Museum, a major cultural development that showcases the area’s rich history as well as, of course, housing the Stone of Destiny.

Archives take centre stage in three articles. John Pelan, Director of the Scottish Council on Archives, reflects on a conference held at the end of last year examining how archives and records foster engagement with, conservation of, and research into Scotland’s historic environment. The next two articles provide excellent cases-in-point: Dr Craig Thomas highlights how researchers have used the Buccleuch Archives to understand the Dukes of Buccleuch and Queensberry estates, while Bill Brogden examines the evidence for the House of Schivas’s development.

Mayeli Alvarez provides a cautionary conservation case study illustrating what goes wrong when ‘old’ techniques are passed over in favour of new. If only the Scottish Lime Centre were consulted!

Lessons from history loom large in this issue’s reviews. Subjects include how slavery and Empire shaped our built environment, the Burrell Collection’s “renaissance”, Scottish Furniture from the sixteenth to twentieth century, and Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s masterpiece, ‘The Mack’.

Local group reports cover the usual range of planning highs and lows, triumphs and frustrations. Happily, though, several reports mention positive outcomes where a constructive dialogue between owner, architect, council and local group has taken place.

Finally, RIAS President Karen Anderson picks her favourite building. Interestingly, she reflects that her appreciation of it may not have been as keen if she’d visited early on in her career.

I hope you enjoy reading this latest issue and take some inspiration from the organisations, people and projects featured.
Abigail Daly, Editor

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