Almost one-quarter of the books that were destroyed in the calamitous fire at the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) have been replaced by national and inter­national donors.

About 700 books perished in the fire in May, when the Mackintosh Building at the school suffered from a fire that severely damaged its west wing and destroyed its library.

However, institutions, ­individuals and other groups have now donated around 150 volumes so that students and staff at the world renowned ­institution can study key texts again.

The GSA said it has been "bowled over" by the generosity of those who have given volumes to the school.

Donations have come from across the world and are currently being stored, but the school will shortly consider how the volumes can again be borrowed and studied.

Duncan Chappell, the academic liaison librarian at the GSA, said: "In the three-month period since the fire we have successfully replaced 22 per cent of the volumes we identified as a priority because they were in high demand and used regularly by our students, staff and researchers.

"We have been very touched by the generosity shown to us, which is testament to the affection in which the Mackintosh Library was held by so many."

There are some rare books among those replaced by donors, including Agnes Miller Parker's XXI Welsh Gypsy Folk-tales, printed by Gregynog Press (1933), which has been donated by ­Blackwells Rare Books.

The volume is illustrated with original wood engravings by Agnes Miller Parker, an alumna of the GSA.

Only 250 copies were printed and Blackwells has donated book number 216, which still has its original mustard bevel-edged sheepskin binding.

Miller Parker, who lived from 1895 to 1980, was an engraver and illustrator born in Ayrshire.

She studied at GSA from 1911 to 1917, and later joined the staff of the School.

Another donation is Ver Sacrum, or Sacred Spring, 1898-1903, published by Gerlach & Schenk. The magazine was influential in the Art Nouveau movements across Europe, and the collection has been donated by an anonymous source.

It features many drawings and designs in the "Jugendstil" style by artists such as Josef ­Hoffmann, Gustav Klimt and Koloman Moser.

The Architecture Librarian Group has donated Arts Workers' Quartley from 1902 to 1906 - an influential journal in the Arts and Crafts movement, and influential on the work of William Morris, Walter Crane and CR Ashbee.

A statement from the GSA said: "The rebuilding of the collections could take many years, but we intend to pursue a targeted rebuild, reflecting both the illustrious history and future direction of the institution."

Other donors include the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Historic Scotland, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, the National Library of Scotland, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, the Tate, the Universities of Glasgow, St Andrews, Strathclyde and Texas, the Virginia Museum of the Fine Arts and the Wallace Collection.

The school has published a "wants list" online, to replace the volumes that were in high demand.

There has been a debate over what should be done to replace the Mackintosh Library.

Last week David Mullane, a former director of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, who chairs the Friends Of The GSA organisation, said a rebuilt version of library could be an "embarrassment" and a prime example of "Mockintosh".

The Art School is to hold a symposium on the question of how to replace the library but Mr Mullane believes Mackintosh's original cannot be "effectively replicated".

A debate on what should happen to the library is to be held by the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society on September 25 at the Mackintosh-designed Queen's Cross Church in Glasgow.

The Art School intends to "restore and rebuild the Mackintosh Building, including the iconic library, and to rebuild well".