Meet the man who has worked in Edinburgh libraries for 50 years

Librarian George Wilson has spent more than half a century looking after the city's books and helping readers – and he has no plans to stop now.

George Wilson has worked in the library service for 50 years

His 50 years' service has left him with plenty stories to tell – and a firm belief in the importance of libraries.

"I love books and believe wholeheartedly that libraries are amazing places; for children after school sitting in the reading area devouring books; older people knowing exactly what books they want; being a safe environment for people of all walks of life and the joy of meeting everyone and making them feel welcome.”

It didn’t seem a promising start when he joined the libraries at 17, straight from Ainslie Park school.

George has no plans to retire

George, 68, who lives in Joppa, recalls: "The school had suggested a library job so I sent in my application and when I went the deputy librarian looked at it and ripped it up and made me write it out again – I’d used capital letters where I should have put small ones."

But he got the job and turned up at 1.45pm on August 17, 1970 at Muirhouse Library. "They had just been open a few months - it was a portable cabin building. They showed me how to use the ticket system, we opened the doors at 2pm and it was non-stop till 5pm; they closed for a tea break, and it was the same till 8.30pm. After an incredibly busy day, with queues out the door the whole day, I went home thinking I will never last, I was so tired."

He remembers the official opening soon afterwards by the Lady Provost. "They decided she would take a book out but she wasn't a member so she had to join and they asked me to do it. I was so nervous and I thought they'll want me to do it exactly the right way so I asked if she had any identification – and suddenly I was shoved out of the way."

But he enjoyed the job. "In a small branch you did everything. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I and another assistant went out to the houses and knocked on the door asking for overdue books and the kids used to shout 'There's the library men'."

He remembers people used to refer to libraries a the "university of the working man". "We used to get a lot of people who left school at 14 and they got a trade or a job but they were still interested in things and used to come to the library asking sometimes for the most obscure books.

"In those days it was so obvious to people libraries were good things in themselves. Everybody believed in it. Then in the '80s we were expected to sell ourselves more and people became 'customers' rather than 'readers'.”

George has seen lots of changes and worked in many different branches over the years, including McDonald Road, Granton, Portobello, Leith, Central, Morningside and Currie.

At McDonald Road, he recalls: "One of my jobs was to go through the papers and take out the racing pages before they were put out for people. It might be a temptation."

He remembers being at Morningside when computers were first made available for the public to use.

And he has seen changes in reading fashion too.

"There used to be huge bays of tourist guides. I remember when guides to Indonesia and Bali appeared, people would say if they can afford to go there they can afford to buy them.

"I've seen cassettes come and go.

"Westerns were really big when I started, now hardly anyone ever takes a Western out.

"And Catherine Cookson was huge - there used to be reservations a month ahead - but I can’t remember the last time a person asked for a Catherine Cookson.

"Children's sections used to be full of classics like Black Beauty and Billy Bunter, but now we live in a golden age of the children's storyteller – people like JK Rowling and Jacqueline Wilson. You used to see very earnest parents try to persuade a child to read a book because it was a 'good book' but if they get one that catches their imagination they self-start and they've got it for life.

"The other thing I learned was you can't have too many illustrated dinosaur books in any library."

George has been based at Leith library for the past nine years, but was off work during the lockdown and is currently working at Central library on George IV Bridge because Leith is being used as a Covid testing centre.

He says he plans to continue working “as long as I can physically keep going”.

"We've always been a safe place for people – no-one hassles them and we don't turn anybody away. I've always been very proud of that.

"But 2020 has been devastating for us all. I have missed work so much. I look forward to us all returning, and continuing to make Edinburgh libraries the very special places they are.”

Colleagues paid tribute to George’s dedication. His current manager Scott McKail said: “I love working with George because he is an Edinburgh libraries treasure. He tells tales of times past characterised by wistful fun and kindness.”

And Paul Hudson from Portobello library described him as “a true library man and a real gentlemen”. He said: “He was hugely popular with the customers who frequently asked for him in person. He was brilliant with customers of all ages – kind and generous with his time and always willing to share knowledge.”

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