The Edinburgh Central Library was opened in 1890 on the site of the former home of Sir Thomas Hope, 1st Baronet Hope of Craighal with funding from Andrew Carnegie as part of the the Public Libraries Act. 

The building was designed by architect Washington Browne and stands three levels tall above George IV Bridge in the disjointed streets of Edinburgh's Old Town. Above the main door is the motto, "Let there be Light" which Carnegie insisted was placed above the entrance to every library he funded. 

The Central library has expanded many times over the years with the addition of a book store in 1903. In 1930, the adjacent building at no.3 George IV Bridge was acquired allowing the library to expand again. Additional nearby premises were bought in 1940 and 1961 to create mezzanine level above the former Newspaper Room.